From Madrid to England: Xabi Alonso’s most likely next club
Real Madrid’s defeat in the Spanish Super Cup final has led to the dismissal of head coach Xabi Alonso. The day after the final, the team released an official statement confirming that Alonso had left his post, with Álvaro Arbeloa, previously in charge of Castilla, appointed as interim head coach. Despite the failed final, Alonso’s international reputation remains high thanks to his successful spell at Bayer Leverkusen. As a result, discussions have already begun about where he might continue his career.
Where will Xabi Alonso go next?
In this piece, we analyse the clubs closest to appointing Alonso, the reasons behind his dismissal from Real Madrid, and his statistics during his time in charge of the Madrid side.
What's Next for Xabi Alonso in Management?
Following his departure, bookmakers were quick to open markets on Alonso’s next club. Here are the most likely options:
Odds for Xabi Alonso’s next club
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National Team / Club |
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Liverpool |
33/100
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Tottenham |
8/1
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Manchester City |
14/1
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Spain national football team |
18/1
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Bayern Munich |
20/1
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Liverpool are clear favourites in the race for Xabi Alonso. Next come potential roles with national teams, including Spain or England, as well as clubs such as Bayern Munich and other Premier League sides.
A return to the Premier League
A return to Anfield looks closer than ever. After Jürgen Klopp left in 2024, Alonso’s name was heavily linked with Liverpool, but at the time the Spaniard chose to remain in Germany and wait for an offer from Real Madrid. Now, after two seasons under Arne Slot and a run of disappointing results, Liverpool trail the league leaders by 14 points and are in urgent need of change. Alonso appears a perfect fit in terms of style and leadership. He is a Liverpool legend, and an increasing number of voices believe the time is right for his return.
Among other Premier League clubs, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United also feature in the betting. Manchester United are in need of a new head coach, but Alonso’s past with Liverpool makes that option unlikely. Manchester City’s situation is directly tied to the future of Pep Guardiola. Alonso played alongside him and could be seen as a logical successor in terms of mentality and man-management.
A return to Germany
Another scenario is a return to Germany, where Alonso firmly established himself as an elite-level coach. Bayer Leverkusen remain a possible option, although the coach himself appears ready for a bigger challenge.
The most realistic alternative is Bayern Munich, currently managed by Vincent Kompany. The Munich side are leading the Bundesliga convincingly, holding an 11-point advantage over Borussia Dortmund, and sit second in the league phase of the Champions League.
A move into international management
Finally, there is the national team option. The 2026 World Cup takes place this summer, and post-tournament coaching changes are traditionally expected. Spain, England or Germany could theoretically consider Alonso.
However, according to insider information, the coach is not currently interested in international management. His aim is to take charge of a top European club.
How Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid spell began
On 25 May 2025, Real Madrid announced Xabi Alonso as head coach on a three-year contract. The club were in crisis after a trophyless season under Carlo Ancelotti, which ended with a painful Champions League elimination at the hands of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and domestic domination by Hansi Flick’s Barcelona.
Alonso arrived with the task of revitalising a star-studded squad lacking a clear identity. His ideas became visible as early as the 2025 Club World Cup. Despite minimal preparation time, Real Madrid showed higher pressing intensity and a more compact structure.
The start to the La Liga campaign was impressive: six consecutive wins, three clean sheets and a goal difference of 14:3. After a setback against Atlético Madrid, Alonso won El Clásico at the Bernabéu and opened up a five-point gap over Barcelona. In the Champions League, results were flawless and performances convincing. In terms of pressing intensity, Real ranked among Europe’s elite.
Collapse and dismissal
The first serious crack appeared in that very Clásico victory. Alonso substituted Vinícius Júnior in the 70th minute, prompting visible frustration from the Brazilian. The media interpreted the episode as a challenge to the coach’s authority. Worse still, there were no consequences, as Vinícius started the next match. It was not an isolated incident. Alonso also experienced friction with other leaders, including Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham.
At the same time, the team’s performances deteriorated, increasingly resembling previous seasons: slow, horizontal football, an empty midfield, reliance on Kylian Mbappé and Thibaut Courtois, declining form among key players and a lack of competitiveness in big matches. Real Madrid slipped from first place to five points behind Barcelona.
Before the Super Cup, there was already talk inside the club of an imminent dismissal. It appeared Florentino Pérez was looking for a trigger, with reports that some players were calling for a change. The Super Cup final proved decisive, as Barcelona dominated completely, with possession reaching 80 percent in certain phases.
After 34 competitive matches and 217 days in charge, Alonso was sacked. His record stood at 24 wins, 4 draws and 6 defeats, identical to Hansi Flick’s first 34 matches at Barcelona. The difference lay in style: Flick delivered total football, while Alonso’s side became predictable and overly dependent on individual quality. Real Madrid also lost to every top European opponent they faced: Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Atlético Madrid and Barcelona.
Was the dismissal justified?
We will never know what might have happened had Alonso been given more time. What is clear is that he received less patience than many other coaches, and his dismissal came as a surprise to many.
Alonso was tasked with the following objectives:
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Reaching the Club World Cup final. The team lost 0:4 to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final but showed positive signs against Borussia Dortmund and Juventus. The defeat was painful, but PSG were the strongest team in the world at the time.
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Competing with Barcelona domestically. At the time of his dismissal, Real Madrid were still fighting on multiple fronts and trailed the La Liga leaders by just four points. The team ranked among the best defensively, with 17 goals conceded in 19 matches, and boasted the second-best attack behind Barcelona. Despite criticism of performances, the team remained in the title race and the gap could not be described as critical.
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Restoring competitiveness in Europe. This objective was effectively achieved, with Champions League qualification for the knockout stages all but secured.
Based on the results, the decision to dismiss Alonso appears unjustified. Other coaches have been given more time even after disastrous seasons. Manuel Pellegrini and Juande Ramos were allowed to complete their campaigns despite not being club legends.
That said, the dismissal can be explained by poor performances, off-field conflicts and mistakes in sporting planning. Alonso’s authority in the dressing room gradually declined. The team lacked a clear tactical plan, and the head coach must take responsibility for that. But was he the only one at fault? In our view, there are two other key factors:
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The board. Florentino Pérez’s leadership has pursued a questionable recruitment strategy for years. Despite defensive reinforcements, the team continues to deploy Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga at full-back, with Aurélien Tchouaméni in central defence. The departures of Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić were never properly addressed. At the same time, the 40-year-old Croatian remains the most-used player in Serie A. In attack, the imbalance is clear: Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo Goes and Kylian Mbappé are all left-sided wingers, while Gonzalo García is the only natural centre-forward.
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The players. Form has dropped sharply for Valverde, Vinícius, Rodrygo, Bellingham, Huijsen and Antonio Rüdiger. The team no longer presses, lacks intensity and looks complacent. Internal conflicts and clashing egos have made the squad difficult to manage. There is a shortage of self-criticism, commitment and competitive edge.
Arbeloa’s appointment has brought no improvement. Real Madrid were knocked out of the Copa del Rey after a defeat to Albacete. In our opinion, the main responsibility lies with Florentino Pérez. Reinforcements were insufficient, and so-called untouchable players are holding the team back. The club needs a complete structural overhaul and a fresh start.
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