Real Madrid have confirmed the departure of manager Xabi Alonso following their dramatic 3-2 loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.
The club said the decision was reached by “mutual consent,” ending the Spaniard’s short tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Alonso, 44, who joined Los Blancos last summer after managing Bayer Leverkusen, leaves amid lingering speculation about his standing in the dressing room.
Reports had suggested that the former midfielder was not entirely popular among the squad, and questions about his future had been growing for more than a month.
In an official statement, Real Madrid said, “Real Madrid CF announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to end his time as first team coach.
“Xabi Alonso will always have the affection and admiration of all Madrid fans because he is a Real Madrid legend and has always represented the values of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home. Our club thanks Xabi Alonso and his entire technical team for their work and dedication during this time, and wishes them the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.”
The Spaniard’s tenure had seen early promise. When Madrid beat Barcelona in late October, they led La Liga by five points, and Alonso seemed to have the team performing at their best.
But a difficult spell in both domestic and European competitions saw Los Blancos fall behind their rivals, with dressing room unrest reportedly compounding the pressure.
Alonso himself had acknowledged the intense demands of managing a club of Real Madrid’s stature. Back in November, he said, “It’s demanding. I’m not the first coach that has to deal with these kinds of situations. I think about what Carlo [Ancelotti] or Mou[rinho] would do, [Manuel] Pellegrini too. It isn’t new. You have to know how to live with it.”
Now, Alonso will no longer face the pressures of the Bernabeu, leaving fans and pundits to speculate on who might take the reins next, with former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp frequently mentioned in the mix.
