Real Madrid shook the football world when they let Xabi Alonso go just two weeks into the new year. People saw the pressure building on Alonso ever since Real slipped behind Barcelona in La Liga. Losses to Liverpool and Manchester City in the Champions League didn’t help his case, and the Super Cup flop basically sealed his fate.

The club pulled the plug on Alonso after only seven months, even though everyone expected him to last at least three years at the Bernabéu. Now his contract’s done, and Castilla boss Álvaro Arbeloa is stepping up to take charge.

News of the change spread like wildfire online. Fans reacted first, and then the players started to say their goodbyes.

Kylian Mbappé was the first to speak up. He posted on Instagram, thanking Alonso and wishing him well. “It’s been short, but it was a pleasure to play for you & learn from you. Thank you for giving me the confidence since Day 1,” Mbappé wrote. “I will remember you as a manager who had clear ideas and knows many things about football. Best of luck for your next chapter.”

Mbappé thrived under Alonso, banging in 29 goals this season and making himself an early contender for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

Arda Güler’s message probably hit the hardest. The 20-year-old had his breakout under Alonso, who really invested in his development. “Mr Xabi Alonso, thank you for believing and trusting in me from the first day,” Güler wrote. “Every conversation, every detail, every demand helped shape my game and push me to a higher level. I’m truly grateful for everything you added to my journey. Your faith in me made me a better player. Wishing you and your staff nothing but success in what comes next. Your impact will always stay with me.”

Aurélien Tchouaméni jumped in with his own tribute Monday night: “Thank you for everything! It was a pleasure to get to learn from one of the best. All the best for your journey.”

Dean Huijsen also posted, thanking Alonso for bringing him over from Bournemouth. “Thank you for everything I have experienced with you, Mister. I wish you the best in your future.”

Backup keeper Andriy Lunin called Alonso “a great manager,” while Dani Ceballos promised “only great things await.” Federico Valverde praised his “great attitude.”

Rodrygo added, “Mister, thank you for every day we spent together, for the trust, the learning, and the moments of shared experience. I wish you great success in your future, and that your journey continues to grow.”

One name missing so far: Vinicius Junior. He still hasn’t said anything about Alonso’s departure.

Real Madrid didn’t waste any time shaking things up this season. After just half a season, they let Xabi Alonso go.

The club brought Alonso in during the summer of 2025, hoping for big things. Sure, Madrid was still in the hunt for trophies on all fronts, but the results just didn’t live up to what the club demands. And honestly, things weren’t great behind the scenes either. Alonso struggled to connect with the squad, and a few players weren’t exactly thrilled with his approach.

So now, Alvaro Arbeloa steps in. He’s a familiar face—a former Real Madrid defender—and he’s been waiting patiently for this chance.

Let’s take a closer look at Arbeloa and how he fits as Madrid’s new head coach.

Arbeloa hasn’t managed a senior team before this. He started out coaching Madrid’s Under-14s back in 2020, working his way up through the youth and reserve ranks. This past May, after Raul left Castilla (frustrated after getting passed over for the top job several times), Arbeloa took over as head coach of the reserve team.

He was actually a candidate for the main job when Alonso got it, and people inside the club have always spoken highly of him.

Madrid isn’t calling him an interim manager, either. According to their official statement, Arbeloa is the permanent head coach—no mention of a search for anyone else. All signs point to him being Alonso’s full-time replacement. He was in the running last summer, too, right after Ancelotti left.

What about his record with Castilla? Well, tracking youth and reserve stats isn’t easy, but here’s what we know. Since taking charge, Arbeloa’s team has won 12 out of 23 games, drawn three, and lost eight. Early on, they hit a rough patch with four straight defeats in September, but then bounced back to win 10 of their next 19.

Of course, reserve teams are always tricky to judge. The squad changes constantly, and young players are still learning the ropes. Even so, Madrid Castilla plays in Spain’s third tier—Primera Federación, Group 1—and after 19 matches with Arbeloa at the helm, they were sitting in fourth place. That’s not too shabby.

As for his playing days, Arbeloa spent a big chunk of his career at Real Madrid, mostly as a right-back. He came up through Madrid’s academy, got a couple of games with the senior team, then spent a couple of years at Deportivo La Coruña, followed by three seasons at Liverpool. After that, he returned to Madrid and stayed for seven years.

Between 2009 and 2016, Arbeloa made 238 appearances for Los Blancos, scoring six goals. He helped the team win two Champions Leagues (2014, 2016), a La Liga title, two Copa del Rey trophies, and a Spanish Super Cup.

On top of that, he earned 56 caps for Spain and was part of the squads that won the 2010 World Cup and back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012.