Image source: bbc.com
Real Madrid’s decision to part ways with Xabi Alonso after just seven and a half months highlighted fundamental problems with player power and boardroom support that ultimately made his position untenable despite the club remaining competitive across all competitions this season.
Why Xabi Alonso’s Seven-Month Real Madrid Reign Was Doomed From the Start
The defining moment came after Sunday’s Spanish Super Cup final defeat to Barcelona, when Kylian Mbappe gestured for teammates to leave the pitch rather than provide a guard of honour. Alonso asked the players to stay, but Mbappe insisted on leaving, forcing the manager to turn away and comply with his star’s demands. The incident crystallized a deeper issue that had plagued Alonso’s tenure from the beginning.
Real Madrid’s board met at 4:30pm Spanish time on Monday with Alonso’s departure as the sole agenda item, despite the team sitting in the Champions League top eight and just four points behind Barcelona in La Liga at the halfway point. The explanations offered to Alonso were described as ambiguous, citing his inability to implement the football that made him successful at Bayer Leverkusen and claims that players had not improved under his guidance.
President Florentino Perez never truly believed in Alonso as manager, agreeing to his appointment without conviction after he was suggested by others. The club undermined his authority from day one, refusing his request to start after the Club World Cup and ignoring his desire to sign midfielder Martin Zubimendi. Unlike at Leverkusen where results eventually won over skeptical players, Madrid’s squad never bought into Alonso’s methods despite decent results.
Key players actively worked against the manager’s authority, with Vinicius Jr blaming Alonso for his form dip and visibly protesting his substitution in El Clasico before apologizing to everyone except the manager. Mbappe prioritized chasing Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 59 goals in a calendar year over team needs, while Federico Valverde appeared more concerned with his individual position than collective success.
Castilla coach Alvaro Arbeloa takes temporary charge, but faces an almost impossible task given that even a club legend like Alonso could not change Madrid’s culture. European clubs remain interested in Alonso for next season, viewing Real Madrid as outliers who operate differently and restrict their managers. The departure confirms long-held beliefs that some clubs simply refuse to be managed at all.
