MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid pulled the trigger on Monday, replacing Xabi Alonso with B team coach Alvaro Arbeloa.
Madrid said Alonso’s departure was by mutual consent, but his departure today, a day after Madrid lost 3-2 to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia, follows a tumultuous period that has lasted less than eight months.
Alonso was immediately replaced by Arbeloa. They were teammates at Madrid, Liverpool and Spain and won the World Cup together in 2010.
“Real Madrid would like to announce that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, he has decided to end his tenure as first-team coach,” a statement said. “Xabi Alonso will always carry the love and admiration of all Madrid players, because he is a Real Madrid legend and has always represented the values of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home.”
The club also thanked Alonso’s coaching staff.
Alonso arrived in May last year with high hopes as a replacement for Carlo Ancelotti. pressure is applied The team struggled to play well under his direction. It was widely reported in the media that he got into altercations with players including Vinicius Junior and lost control of the locker room.
Vinicius and others repeatedly complained about being substituted by the coach during matches. Although some players publicly supported the coach late last year, the situation does not seem to have improved much.
After Sunday’s defeat in Jeddah, Alonso appeared to want his team to serve as Barcelona’s guard of honor at the awards ceremony, but Kylian Mbappe and other players called him back and left.
Mbappe was the first player to say goodbye to Alonso on Monday. Mbappe praised Alonso and expressed his gratitude. instagram stories It was accompanied by a photo of him and his coach saluting each other.
“It was a pleasure to play for you and learn from you, even though it was only for a short period of time,” the French star wrote. “Thank you for giving me confidence from day one. I will remember you as a coach who had clear ideas and knew a lot about football. I wish you good luck in the next chapter.”
Other Madrid players also posted messages thanking Alonso and wishing him well. Vinicius was not among those who publicly bid farewell to the coach.
Alonso did not immediately comment publicly.
He took charge of Madrid in all competitions, appearing in 34 matches, with 24 wins, six losses, and four draws.
Although Madrid won the first Clasico of the season 2-1 in October, they remained four points behind Barcelona at the halfway point in La Liga. The team’s next match will be on Wednesday against Albacete in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey.
As a player, Arbeloa helped Madrid win eight titles between 2009 and 2016, including two European Cups and one Spanish league title. Arbeloa also helped Spain win the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.
Alonso, 44, was part of the same Spanish national team as well as the Madrid team that won the Champions League in 2014. He won six titles with Madrid between 2009 and 2014.
Arbeloa, 42, had been coaching the B team since June. He also coached the youth team at the club.
alonso signed in may He led Bayer Leverkusen to an unprecedented German league and cup double in his first full season. take over the team This happened when they were in the Bundesliga relegation zone the previous season.
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