- Expresses gratitude to Board, players in emotional statement
- Alvaro Arbeloa emerges new gaffer
Following his abrupt departure from the Santiago Bernabéu, Xabi Alonso has broken his silence by issuing a dignified statement that addresses his time in the Real Madrid’s dugout.
Relieved of his duties just a day after a painful Super Cup defeat to FC Barcelona, the Basque tactician refused to show bitterness, instead sending a clear message of gratitude to his squad and the Bernabeu faithful.
Officially addressing his exit from Real Madrid, Alonso took to social media to share a heartfelt message just hours after his tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu was brought to a premature end.
The 44-year-old’s time in charge of Los Blancos was terminated following Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, a result that ultimately convinced the club’s hierarchy to make a change.
Despite the stinging disappointment of losing his job in the wake of an El Clasico defeat, Alonso displayed the class that defined his playing career. The former midfielder refused to point fingers at the Board or offer excuses for the team’s performance. Instead, he expressed his pride at having led the club where he won the Champions League as a player, whilst acknowledging the harsh reality that results had fallen short of the lofty standards expected in the Spanish capital.
Also, one of the most scrutinised aspects of any managerial departure at Real Madrid is the relationship between the head coach and the star-studded dressing room.
During Alonso’s short stint, rumours of unrest continuously swirled around the capital club, particularly due to his relationship with Brazilian forward, Vinicius Junior.
The Brazilian was occasionally dropped to the bench and his angry reaction at being substituted in the previous game against Barcelona, a Madrid win in La Liga, had sparked claims of an imminent separation.
Again on Sunday evening, France forward, Kylian Mbappe appeared to stop his team-mates from giving Barcelona a guard of honour before they collected their Super Cup prize, despite Alonso’s apparent orders to go through with the traditional pleasantries, which is said to have been the final straw regarding his tenure.
Nevertheless, the erstwhile Coach praised the team in his farewell message on Instagram a day after his exit.
He wrote: “This professional stage concludes, and it has not turned out as we would have liked. Coaching Real Madrid has been an honour and a responsibility.
“I thank the club, the players and above all the fans and Madrid fans for their trust and support. I leave with respect, gratitude, and pride that I did my best.”
Tenure Blighted By High Expectations
After his historic work at Bayer Leverkusen, where he went unbeaten to win the Bundesliga title, Alonso was identified as the ideal candidate to lead Real Madrid into a new era.
Unfortunately, translating that specific brand of dominance to the Bernabeu and La Liga proved difficult against the backdrop of immense pressure.
However, despite claims that Mbappe has played a key role in his departure, the French forward took to social media to give his verdict shortly after Madrid announced his departure, saying: “It’s been short but it was a pleasure to play for you and learn from you. Thank you for giving me the confidence since Day 1. I will remember you as a manager who had clear ideas and knows many things about football. Best of luck for your next chapter.”
As Arbeloa Takes Over Affairs
Moving fast to fill the vacuum following Alonso’s sudden exit, Real Madrid have already appointed Alvaro Arbeloa as the new first-team head coach.
The ex-Liverpool defender has been serving as the boss of their B team and will now step up into the Bernabeu hotseat for the time being.
The 42-year-old won two Champions League trophies as a player with Madrid as well as a La Liga crown and the Copa del Rey on two occasions.
Los Blancos will be in action again on Thursday to battle Albacete in the Copa del Rey, followed three days later by a La Liga clash against Levante.
