Xabi Alonso reflected on his short lived managerial stint with Real Madrid and stated that it was an exceptional experience. The former Real Madrid manager was brought in following his historical run with Bayer
Leverkusen, guiding them to an unbeaten domestic double. Alonso was brought in as the replacement of Carlo Ancelotti and he was given a highly skilled set of players to work with. However, Alonso’s strict managerial approach along with some internal disputes in the dressing room led to dissatisfaction among the high profile players of the Real Madrid squad. The Spaniard was later sacked from the role in January 2026 and he was relieved of his duties after 7 months.
“Training that Real Madrid team was an exceptional experience… I’m not angry, I just tried my best. It is a club different from all others. I learned a lot from that experience,” stated Xabi Alonso on his time with Real Madrid. The former Real Madrid star was roped in with a lot of hope to coach the side but the big stars such as Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham couldn’t cope with him. Later, Chelsea appointed Xabi Alonso as their new manager for the 2026-27 season and he has signed a four-year contract with the side.
🚨 Xabi Alonso: “Training that Real Madrid team was an exceptional experience.. I’m not angry, I just tried my best”.
“It is a club different from all others. I learned a lot from that experience”, told Sky. https://t.co/wSWSWsqgID
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 24, 2026
Alonso’s turbulent seven-month spell with Real Madrid
Xabi Alonso departed from Real Madrid on January 12, 2026 by mutual consent and the decision didn’t come off as a surprise to the fans. Alonso tried to impose restrictions on the roles of the players by changing their positions in-game. Vinicius Jr was frustrated with the manager as he was played out of position and subbed off early in an El Clasico clash. Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde as well faced similar issues as they weren’t satisfied with the roles assigned to them as compared to their previous roles with the squad.
Even though Real Madrid did a decent job in the season, they experienced a form slump mid-season with a string of losses in big games. Despite having a five-point lead in the La Liga, they ended up losing the La Liga title to FC Barcelona with a 4-point deficit. The final test of Xabi Alonso came in the final of the Spanish Super Cup against FC Barcelona. However, the side suffered a painful 3-2 defeat against their arch-rivals and Alonso was sacked within 24 hours after the game.
Following the appointment of Xabi Alonso by the Chelsea management, the Spaniard has been given a stronger voice in key squad decisions and transfers. He has tried to adjust the squad to its strengths and the demands of the Premier League. Chelsea currently sits in the 4th spot in the Premier League with 4 wins from their first 7 games and they have been enjoying a fine run of form so far in the season. Alonso would be hopeful of helping Chelsea achieve their title ambitions in the league and European competitions.
