Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso has left his role as manager after just over seven months in charge, with the club's board describing the departure as a "mutual agreement". The decision comes as no surprise, given the difficulties Alonso had faced since arriving at the Bernabeu. Many had written him off from the start, questioning whether he could adapt to the club's unique culture and demands.
Alonso, a former midfielder who was highly successful with Bayer Leverkusen, was appointed by Florentino Perez to bring his high-intensity, pressing-based style of football to Madrid. However, despite some positive results, including victories over Barcelona in La Liga, Alonso struggled to convince the players that his approach was the right one.
Player apathy and individual egos ultimately proved to be a major obstacle for Alonso. Kylian Mbappe's record-breaking goal against Manchester City, which saw him chase Ronaldo's record of 59 goals in a calendar year, took priority over team duties. Meanwhile, Vinicius Jr's form dipped, and the young forward visibly protested his substitution in El Clasico.
The situation was further complicated by injuries to key players, including defenders, which highlighted Alonso's lack of depth at the club. The midfield was also plagued by a lack of cohesion, with Federico Valverde seemingly more concerned with where he played than with the collective.
With Real Madrid failing to deliver trophies and the board becoming increasingly convinced that Alonso was the problem, it was only a matter of time before his departure was announced. Castilla coach Alvaro Arbeloa is now set to take over as interim manager, but given the club's unique culture and Perez's history of micromanaging, even this appointment has raised questions about whether Real Madrid can be managed at all.
The departure of Alonso serves as a stark reminder that some managers simply do not fit certain clubs. For Real Madrid, it is clear that they will continue to operate differently, with the club's expectations and priorities often coming ahead of those of their coaches.
Alonso, a former midfielder who was highly successful with Bayer Leverkusen, was appointed by Florentino Perez to bring his high-intensity, pressing-based style of football to Madrid. However, despite some positive results, including victories over Barcelona in La Liga, Alonso struggled to convince the players that his approach was the right one.
Player apathy and individual egos ultimately proved to be a major obstacle for Alonso. Kylian Mbappe's record-breaking goal against Manchester City, which saw him chase Ronaldo's record of 59 goals in a calendar year, took priority over team duties. Meanwhile, Vinicius Jr's form dipped, and the young forward visibly protested his substitution in El Clasico.
The situation was further complicated by injuries to key players, including defenders, which highlighted Alonso's lack of depth at the club. The midfield was also plagued by a lack of cohesion, with Federico Valverde seemingly more concerned with where he played than with the collective.
With Real Madrid failing to deliver trophies and the board becoming increasingly convinced that Alonso was the problem, it was only a matter of time before his departure was announced. Castilla coach Alvaro Arbeloa is now set to take over as interim manager, but given the club's unique culture and Perez's history of micromanaging, even this appointment has raised questions about whether Real Madrid can be managed at all.
The departure of Alonso serves as a stark reminder that some managers simply do not fit certain clubs. For Real Madrid, it is clear that they will continue to operate differently, with the club's expectations and priorities often coming ahead of those of their coaches.
, he gave it his all but just couldn't get the team on the same page, you know? All that high-intensity pressing is tough, especially when you're dealing with egos like Kylian Mbappe's 
. And let's be real, Real Madrid's culture can be super toxic, even for the best of managers. I mean, Perez's micromanaging can make it hard for anyone to thrive at the club.
. The problem is, sometimes change takes time, and with injuries piling up and player apathy running rampant 
, it's like, what can you do? Castilla's Arbeloa might be a good choice for interim manager, but I'm not sure if he'll be able to tame the beast that is Real Madrid 
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Alonso's exit isn't shocking at all, tbh... he struggled to get players on board with his style & didn't have that much depth in midfield 
... Castilla coach Arbeloa's in now, but I'm not sure how long he'll last 
... Real Madrid's always been hard to manage, even with the best coaches 
. Player apathy and egos getting in the way is no excuse, but at the same time, you gotta wonder if the club was just expecting him to magically make everything work 
. I don't know if Real Madrid can be managed without someone who's gonna micromanage 
. Anyway, Alonso was never gonna fit into that unique culture and expectations of Perez are just too high 
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. Alonso had some tough decisions to make, but player apathy was a major issue. You can't win trophies with egos like that 
. The midfield was a mess too, I mean, Federico Valverde's loyalty to himself is impressive, lol 
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Alonso's exit isn't shocking tbh #SorryNotSorry. I mean, we all knew he was in a tough spot from day one 
. Castilla's Arbeloa might as well try to herd cats at this point 
. alonso had some good moments but in the end, his style just wasn't clicking 
. real madrid's a special case tho 
. they're used to getting what they want, and if it ain't working, then there's always someone else who'll try 
. gotta wonder how long this whole 'micromanaging' thing of peperez's will last 
. And don't even get me started on injuries... Real Madrid is always going to be a risk when it comes to key players going down 
️. It's like they're trying to reinvent themselves every few years and that never seems to work out 
! Still, on the bright side, maybe this will be an opportunity for someone new to come in and shake things up... we'll just have to see how it plays out 
anyway back to alonso - i feel bad for the guy cuz he had some decent results and all but it's clear that the club just wasn't vibin' w/ him his style didn't seem to mesh w/ the team's dynamic and now castilla coach arbeloa is in charge idk if he'll do any better tho 
. I mean, who expects a coach to deal with egos from their own players?! 
And don't even get me started on the injuries 
is a major red flag for any coach 
. Guess we'll just have to wait and see if this is gonna bring any real change 
. I mean, his tactics just didn't translate to the Bernabeu, it was like throwing a bunch of fish into a crowded market 
. Player apathy and egos are a huge issue at Real Madrid, they're always more focused on personal records than team success 
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. I think Alonso did some good things, winning those La Liga games against Barcelona was impressive, but at the end of the day, he just couldn't convince the players to buy into his system.
. It's not Alonso's fault, it's just how the club rolls. I think the real question is what now? Are they going to stick with the "high-intensity pressing" style or try something new? And will Perez let Arbeloa run his own show or just keep micromanaging from the sidelines 
. I mean, he gave it a shot, but the Bernabeu can be tough to crack. I think Perez knew he was taking a risk with the high-intensity press, and it's not something that just clicks overnight. The players' egos are a major thing for Real Madrid, you know? They've got some big names who can't always put the team first 
. Alonso tried, but it was just too much for him 
real madrid is known 4 bein all about individual talents & egos, so maybe Alonso jus couldn't cope