UPDATED: Real Madrid sack Xabi Alonso after Barcelona defeat

Spanish club giant, Real Madrid, has sacked its manager, Xabi Alonso, hours after losing 3-2 to Barcelona at the final of the King Super Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday.

The club made the announcement on its official X page on Monday.

It wrote, “Real Madrid CF announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to end his time as first team coach.

“Xabi Alonso will always have the affection and admiration of all Madrid fans because he is a Real Madrid legend and has always represented the values of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home.

“Our club thanks Xabi Alonso and his entire technical team for their work and dedication during this time, and wishes them the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.”

Recall that the club appointed the Spaniard to replace Carlo Ancelotti as coach on Sunday, with the Spaniard to take over from June 1 and lead the team at the Club World Cup.

“Xabi Alonso will be the Real Madrid coach for the next three seasons, from June 1, 2025, until June 30, 2028,” said Real Madrid in a statement.

With veteran Italian coach Ancelotti taking the reins of the Brazilian national team, Madrid secured a deal with former midfielder Alonso, whom they have been linked with for months.

Alonso, 43, leaves German side Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the Bundesliga season after finishing second.

“Alonso is one of the biggest legends at Real Madrid and in world football.

“He wore our shirt in 236 games between 2009 and 2014. During that time, he won six trophies,” continued Los Blancos’ statement.

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The Spaniard coached Leverkusen to a league and German Cup double in the 2023-2024 campaign, with his team unbeaten in the top flight, making him a target for Europe’s top clubs.

Basque coach Alonso had an agreement with Leverkusen to allow him to depart if one of his former sides, including Madrid, Liverpool and Bayern Munich, wanted to hire him.

Ancelotti’s Madrid endured a disappointing campaign, winning the European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup but suffering Champions League quarter-final elimination by Arsenal.

Barcelona beat Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey finals and then reclaimed the Liga throne from their arch-rivals, meaning they failed to win a major trophy.

Madrid added French superstar Kylian Mbappe last summer, but Ancelotti found it hard to include him in the team alongside Vinicius Junior without destabilising it.