Real Madrid have dismissed Xabi Alonso as manager, making the Basque manager the first coach to leave during the season in seven years, since Santiago Solari was replaced by Zinedine Zidane. Los Blancos have named Castilla manager Alvaro Arbeloa their new senior coach.
Already names are being suggested as potential long-term replacements. Arbeloa was asked if his job was permanent or on an interim basis, a question he was unable to give a decisive response to.
Alonso’s job was in danger for the past month since losses to Celta Vigo and Manchester City in December, but after defeat in the Spanish Supercup to Barcelona, decided a run of five straight wins were not enough to save his job.
Xabi Alonso gives Real Madrid advice on departure
On Monday morning, Alonso was called to the Valdebebas training ground to discuss the Supercup defeat, and it was put to him that perhaps the best solution was for Alonso to leave the club. It seems the decision was made by Los Blancos, but Alonso did not fight his case any further. Cadena SER explain that Alonso has some parting advice for the Real Madrid hierarchy before he left though.
Alonso told the club that ‘they cannot give so much power to the players’, feeling that it was the biggest factor in his downfall. The ex-Bayer Leverkusen manager explained that club’s constant defence of the players and the dressing room undermined him, and told the club that it was impossible for him to have authority in the dressing room when the club sided with the stars on the pitch time and again, even when he was in the right.
Alonso’s turbulent relationship with the dressing room
There were a number of flashpoints with Real Madrid’s stars, with Fede Valverde publicly declaring he was not keen to play right-back, and Vinicius Junior shouting at him as he was brought off in El Clasico. The final nail in the coffin appeared to come in the Supercup, when the players followed Kylian Mbappe down the tunnel rather than giving Barcelona a guard of honour.
These incidents occurred with a background rumble of discontent from the dressing room. Although it appeared relations had improved over the last two months, it was not sufficient to cause improvement on the pitch.
The players are spoiled! And they are apparently ABOVE the club – not even Messi was above Barca…
Messi was above barca alright.
Why do you think names as huge as ronaldinho, zlatan ibrahimovic, and thierry henry were let go when they’re still on their prime?
We all love messi, he’s the goat, but everybody knows his prima donna behavior while in barca.
Alonzo is absolutely right! Today’s players are soft spoiled brats it’s all about tattoos and instagram. About time someone grew a pair.alonzo your better off not being there
I’ve always suspected this(players being above the club) trend @realmadrid & Xabi Alonso is the 1st manager to expose it! It’s not surprising much bcoz they’ve always been a cheque book club!
If players get empty nets and still throws the ball away, it’s a problem of the coach? Vini, Bellingham all must be benched if not forget…we are not going anywhere
One of the main reason of the problems of Real Madrid is the hiring policy of the President after winning the LDC 2 times .The players have lost their spirit ….something has been broken ! The salary of Mbappe is not fair for a player who has not win the LDC…almost twice Alaba salary . Life is made of cycles and F Perez put the Real down ! I am sure Carlo Ancelloti is smiling like many people in the soccer cycles !
Coach Alonso took the best decision to leave the club, I also felt that disrespect done by mbappe and others. That proves that some players have more power than their managers. All the best to coach xavi on his journey
It is wrong for the tail wags the head. Perez & the Real board let Xabi Alonso and the fans down. The players who opposed the coach are a disgrace: Vini, Fede, Kylian & the likes. No player should be above the coach. The tenure of Perez & Co should end now.