Alonso leaves Real Madrid by mutual agreement after seven months

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FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Spanish Super Cup - Final - Real Madrid Press Conference - King Abdullah Sport City Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - January 10, 2026 Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso during the press conference REUTERS/Vincent West/File Photo

MADRID, Jan 12 - Coach Xabi Alonso has left Real Madrid by mutual agreement a day after their 3-2 defeat by bitter rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup, the LaLiga club said on Monday.

Xabi Alonso will always have the love and admiration of all Real Madrid fans because he is a Real Madrid legend and has represented the values of our club at all times. Real Madrid will always be his home, the club said in a statement.

They added that second-team manager and former defender Alvaro Arbeloa will take over the first team job.

Real Madrid parted ways with Alonso a little more than seven months after appointing him, following a poor run of results in all competitions.

Former Real midfielder Alonso, who was handed a three-year contract in May after an impressive stint with Bayer Leverkusen, saw his tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu quickly unravel.

The former Spain international had guided Leverkusen to a historic unbeaten campaign to win the Bundesliga title in the 2023-24 season, along with a German Cup triumph and a Europa League final appearance, prompting Real to bring him back to the club as manager.

However, Alonsos return failed