Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has spoken out after losing his job as Real Madrid head coach
Real Madrid’s Spanish coach Xabi Alonso reacts after the Spanish Super Cup final football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at the King Abdullah Stadium in Jeddah (Image: Haitham AL-SHUKAIRI / AFP via Getty Images)
Xabi Alonso has broken his silence following his departure as Real Madrid head coach. The former Liverpool midfielder was confirmed to have left the La Liga giants by mutual consent on Monday evening following a challenging six months in charge at the Bernabeu.
The 44-year-old, who has frequently been linked with a return to Anfield as manager, took over from Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup last summer following a successful three years in charge of Bayer Leverkusen.
He went on to win 24 of his 34 games in charge of the Spanish outfit, losing just six times. But he left the club following their Spanish Super Cup final loss to Barcelona last weekend.
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Taking to Instagram following his departure, Alonso shared his regret that his return to Real Madrid, who he represented as a player between 2009 and 2014, had not worked out.
“This chapter of my career has come to an end, and it hasn’t turned out as we would have liked,” he wrote. “Coaching Real Madrid has been both an honour and a responsibility.
“I thank the club, the players, and above all, the fans and the Madridista community for their trust and support.
“I leave with respect, gratitude, and the pride of having done my best.”
Alonso enjoyed a successful playing career at the Bernabeu, winning La Liga, the Champions League and two Copa del Reys.
However, his time in the Madrid hotseat was littered with reports of behind-the-scenes discontent within the playing squad, with his position undermined as a result.
Alonso was first linked with the Liverpool manager’s job following Jurgen Klopp’s departure in 2024, but opted to stay put at Bayer Leverkusen for a further season as the German outfit chased down their first ever Bundesliga title.
He has again been linked with a return to the Reds this season, following the reigning Premier League champions’ challenging campaign under Arne Slot where they lost nine from 12 matches during the autumn.
However, such talk has since quietened with Liverpool having since put together an 11-game unbeaten run.
Alonso has twice returned to Anfield as a manager, with Leverkusen and Real Madrid. He suffered a 4-0 defeat last season with the German side, before Alexis Mac Allister’s header consigned him to a 1-0 loss back in November.
