Real Madrid appoints Álvaro Arbeloa as new head coach
In a stunning managerial change at Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid have announced that Álvaro Arbeloa will take over as head coach of the first team, replacing Xabi Alonso with immediate effect.
The club confirmed that Alonso’s tenure has come to an end by mutual agreement, less than eight months after his appointment. The decision followed Real Madrid’s 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final a result that intensified pressure on the Basque coach.
Arbeloa, 42, is a former Real Madrid defender and club legend, having made over 230 appearances for Los Blancos and won multiple major trophies, including two Champions League titles. He also enjoyed success with Spain’s national team, lifting the 2010 World Cup and Euro titles in 2008 and 2012.
Before his promotion, Arbeloa coached Real Madrid Castilla, the club’s B team, since June 2025, and had spent his entire coaching career within the club’s academy system since 2020. He recorded notable achievements with youth sides, including a treble with the Under-19s.
His first assignment in charge of the senior side comes with crucial fixtures looming, including a Copa del Rey last-16 tie. Real Madrid currently sit second in La Liga, chasing arch-rivals Barcelona.
“Real Madrid C. F. announces that Álvaro Arbeloa is the new first team coach … Thank you to Xabi Alonso and his staff for their dedication and all the best in the next stage of their careers.”
This marks one of the most dramatic mid-season managerial shifts in Real Madrid’s recent history, as the club looks to reinvigorate its title ambitions under a familiar home-grown figure.
