Álvaro Arbeloa appointed new Real Madrid head coach immediately after Xabi Alonso departure

Álvaro Arbeloa has been confirmed as Real Madrid’s new head coach just minutes after Xabi Alonso’s departure from the club was announced.

Real Madrid and Alonso part ways “by mutual consent”

On its official website, Real Madrid stated they and Alonso had parted ways by “mutual consent” less than eight months after the former midfielder was appointed as he head coach at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.

Arbeloa, a former Real Madrid player, had been coaching Real Madrid Castilla, the club’s B team, since June 2025.

Official Real Madrid statement on Arbeloa appointment

“Real Madrid C. F. would like to announce that Álvaro Arbeloa will be the new first team coach.

“Álvaro Arbeloa has been the coach of Castilla since June 2025, and has spent his entire coaching career in Real Madrid’s youth academy since 2020. He coached the Under-14s A in the 2020-2021 season, winning the league title, the Under-16s in the 2021-2022 season and the Under-19s from 2022 to 2025. As coach of the Under-19s, he won the treble in the 2022-2023 season (League, Copa del Rey and Champions Cup) and the League in the 2024-2025 season.

“As a player, Álvaro Arbeloa was part of Real Madrid in one of the most successful periods of its history. He defended our shirt between 2009 and 2016, in 238 official matches. During that time he won 8 trophies: 2 European Cups, 1 Club World Cup, 1 Uefa Super Cup, 1 LaLiga title, 2 Copa del Rey trophies and 1 Spanish Super Cup.

“With the Spanish national team, Álvaro Arbeloa was also part of a historic era, in which he won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and 2 European Championships (2008 and 2012). He was capped 56 times.”

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