Xabi Alonso leaves Real Madrid by 'mutual agreement' after seven months as head coach

Madrid were defeated by Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday

Xabi Alonso took over as Real Madrid head coach in June. Pic: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.

Xabi Alonso has left Real Madrid after just over seven months as the head coach. The club’s former midfielder has gone “by mutual agreement” after defeat by Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday and with his team four points behind the Catalan club at the top of La Liga.

Alonso officially started on 1 June after a successful spell at Bayer Leverkusen, where he won the domestic double in 2023-24 and led the team to the Europa League final. After overseeing Madrid’s run to the Club World Cup semi-finals he began impressively, winning 13 of his next 14 games, the exception being a heavy derby defeat by Atlético Madrid.