Social Media Erupts as Xabi Alonso's Shocking Real Madrid Departure Sparks 'Authority Crisis' Claims
Real Madrid and Xabi Alonso have parted company following a turbulent beginning to the 2025–26 campaign and directly after Sunday's Spanish Super Cup final defeat to Barcelona.
Alonso oversaw 34 matches during his seven-month tenure at Real Madrid, leaving the club with statistics of 24 victories, four draws and six defeats. While the results weren't catastrophic, Alonso struggled to produce compelling displays and persistent speculation about dressing room unrest didn't aid his position.
A sequence of merely two victories in eight fixtures during late 2025 placed Alonso firmly under pressure. Ultimately, the loss to Barcelona proved to be the decisive blow for the Spanish manager.
Immediately following Real Madrid's announcement of their mutual agreement to separate from Alonso, social media erupted into complete chaos. Here are some of the finest reactions to Real Madrid's coaching change.
Good Riddance, Alonso
Many Real Madrid supporters were never truly convinced by the inflexible tactical system Alonso attempted to implement following his arrival last summer. Despite relatively solid results, Los Blancos appeared as a fragmented team that failed to produce the caliber of performances they achieved during the spectacular period under Alonso's predecessor, Carlo Ancelotti. This was demonstrated by fan reactions following the Barcelona defeat in the final just one day before Alonso's departure.
Alonso ball is horrible man, he's not even giving these players a chance
Xabi Alonso is the worst real madrid coach i have ever seen in my entire life. pic.twitter.com/t9HzESk1yB
The choice to separate from Alonso less than 24 hours following the final sparked celebration among numerous Real Madrid supporters.
I wanted Xabi to succeed at this club but the players really didnt respect him enough to fight for him on the pitch. I was so wrong about Xabi he really didnt learn from any of his mistakes. Also getting rid of him doesnt really fix the deeper issues with this current team.
A lot of problems with Perez and the board. But Alonso is not a good coach. https://t.co/o2UgW4QuX0
The Fault Isn't with Alonso
While some celebrated Alonso's departure from Real Madrid's technical area, many others believe he was never given a fair opportunity to succeed. The poisonous atmosphere within Real Madrid's changing room—traditionally controlled by star players—was too overwhelming for Alonso to handle according to many observers, with some even claiming world-class talents sabotaged the manager.
🚨 𝐄𝐗𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄:
Xabi Alonso is very unhappy about Kylian Mbappé's behavior yesterday.
Even though the coach wanted his players to give a Guard of Honor to Barcelona, Mbappé asked his teammates to get off the pitch.
Xabi feels this is a direct threat to his authority. pic.twitter.com/T8bsyE745C
Xabi Alonso is genuinely one of the kindest & most humble people in football. I don't think people understand how toxic Madrid's dressing room must be for him to feel this way
I have never seen a coach's authority be undermined like this. Xabi Alonso tells the Madrid players to form a guard of honor but Mbappe calls him back and he obliges like a puppet.
No wonder Xabi can't succeed at Madrid pic.twitter.com/5fAThNYevn
Real Madrid is run by the players. if you don't have them convinced you are not going to last at the club
Managing Real Madrid is unlike any other job in world football. You're not going there to coach the players, you're there to manage egos in the sport's biggest and most scrutiny filled goldfish bowl. A job no one will ever turn down but one that's incredibly difficult to balance. https://t.co/tZMd9kPbzZ
If the ultimate straw was Mbappe overruling Alonso's wish to give a guard of honour for Barcelona yesterday, I absolutely respect his decision.
A men of principles who had a personal border crossed by the squad undermining his authority once too often, too publicly. https://t.co/I4PcLGEDaM pic.twitter.com/MAcIMaNcHb
We won 13/14 games this season including bossing El Clásico prior to these players behaving like brats– we lost an insanely good coach.
As for Arbeloa— sentiment is good w/him, there's good ideas w/ him and how he speaks but I CANNOT see him not being thrown under the bus. https://t.co/QQzMrqg24v
Alvaro Arbeloa Instantly Named Alonso's Replacement
Within minutes of Real Madrid announcing Alonso's managerial departure, the club swiftly appointed former player and Real Madrid Castilla coach Álvaro Arbeloa as his replacement. Similar to the controversial decision to part with Alonso, Arbeloa's appointment as successor received mixed responses.
✨📊 | Á𝐥𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐨 𝐀𝐫𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐚 as a coach in La Fábrica:
• 150 games.
• 121 wins.
• 17 draws.
• 12 losses.
• 494 goals scored.
• 109 goals conceded.
• 81% win rate.
• Champions of the league with Infantil A.
• 1 league trophy with Juvenil A.
• 1 Copa del Rey with… pic.twitter.com/DLi7Efmrng
The players didn't respect Xabi Alonso so I'm sure they're gonna respect the guy who used to be 2nd choice RB Arbeloa!!
The players who don't follow Xabi Alonso's instructions will apparently listen to Arbeloa
pic.twitter.com/LP9R8G2kOy
"Álvaro Arbeloa" https://t.co/PScpr473VA pic.twitter.com/YkAekZAOy0
🚨 BREAKING: Alvaro Arbeloa is planning to follow the 'Carlo Ancelotti model' NOT the Xabi Alonso model. @FabrizioRomano pic.twitter.com/DEvBJM3Su8
Arbeloa gonna make Trent rewatch his 08/09 season pic.twitter.com/N0h5xlZabL https://t.co/EZguoHOnTS
Barcelona Celebration
Barcelona supporters wasted no time in celebrating amid the chaos and unstable circumstances their fierce rivals now encounter. Since Hansi Flick's arrival at Barcelona's helm in summer 2024, the Catalans have overwhelmed Real Madrid, defeating them in four of five Clásicos during that period, including three finals. Within that same timeframe, Real Madrid have now dismissed both Ancelotti and Alonso, something that Blaugrana supporters are deriving enormous satisfaction from.
Ancelotti first and now Xabi Alonso, we keep collecting bodiespic.twitter.com/XZMbr4Is5W
This guy single handedly chased away Carlo Ancelotti & Xabi Alonso from Real Madrid
Bro has taken over Spain pic.twitter.com/nqHacXnI4z
AFTER MR ANCELOTTI, XABI ALONSO, WELCOME TO THE HANSI FLICK PENITENTIARY pic.twitter.com/Jl6lJ6P2YG https://t.co/dWok9JjiV8
Never compare the real Xavi with Xabi Alonso.
Xavi won a Spanish Super Cup and La Liga with a financial problems and post-Messi era.
Xabi Alonso had the 'Galacticos 2.0'... We are not the same. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/a9Fj0t7XCV
Hansi Flick ended both Ancelotti and Xabi Alonso's careers in under a year 😂😭😂 pic.twitter.com/V9hVO3wjfY
Xabi Alonso sacked
Real Madrid team in shambles
10 wins in a row
Won a trophy to start the year
Life is good pic.twitter.com/5JStGjqjzc