It has been one decade since Real Madrid last changed managers at the halfway point of the season. Having replaced Carlo Ancelotti with new Spanish manager Rafael Benítez, Real Madrid kicked off the season with an impressive
unbeaten streak, only to run into trouble in the winter months. As Benítez struggled to strike a chord with his star players and failed to secure victories against top sides, and as Barcelona raced to the top of the table, it became more than evident that something needed to change.
Real Madrid appointed Zinedine Zidane as the club’s new manager, who proceeded to turn their campaign around, leading them to an unprecedented three UEFA Champions League titles in a row, before departing in 2018. And when Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari both lasted just a couple of months in charge, it was Zidane again who returned to lead the club back to glory, only to leave his post in 2021. Ancelotti then took the reins for the next four seasons, guiding Los Blancos to LaLiga + Champions League doubles in 2022, before walking away at the end of a disappointing 2024/25 season. Los Blancos turned to a former player, and arguably the hottest manager on the market, in Xabi Alonso. Fresh off leading Bayer Leverkusen to its maiden Bundesliga title, it seemed that this was a match made in heaven.
“It’s a results-driven business, but Alonso was a very good player during his time in Liverpool, and I had absolutely no doubt that he had the sort of mind that would translate itself into management and coaching,” stated legendary commentator Martin Tyler. “He’s also very good with people, which I think is a much underrated skill for a manager or a coach. You have to earn respect: you don’t have to be their best mate, but you have to be respected.”
“Xabi started from a position where everyone respected him for what he did as a player. And now, when he went to Leverkusen, everyone respected him for what he did there. Now, it’s the biggest step up, and of course, the higher you go, the tougher the climb is. He’s had some good times, and I have absolutely no doubt that as long as he wants to be a top-level manager, he will be one. He’s got a nice way about him as a person, and it’s obvious he’s working really hard to make sure he makes the most of this opportunity.”
For a while, it seemed that Real were set for an unforgettable season under Alonso, claiming 13 wins from 14, but then, Los Blancos started to fall off during the winter months and struggled to impose themselves against top opponents like Liverpool, Atlético Madrid and Manchester City. Meanwhile, Alonso seemed to be more at more odds with his superstar players, unable to gain the same chemistry as his predecessor (sound familiar?). And after a defeat to Barcelona in the Supercopa de España Final in Saudi Arabia, Alonso was given his marching orders, with his former club and international teammate Álvaro Arbeloa replacing him on January 12. Arbeloa got off to a disappointing start, with his team conceding a last-second winner to Jefté and losing 3-2 in the Copa del Rey at Albacete.
However, they were able to bounce back in the following match against Levante, with Kylian Mbappé opening the scoring from the penalty spot in the 58th minute and Raúl Asencio doubling the lead shortly after to secure a 2-0 win. Real then faced off against Monaco, with Mbappé scoring an early brace against his boyhood club and Franco Mastantuono adding another after the break, whilst Vinícius Júnior forced an own goal and added another. Jordan Teze would pull one back for the principality side, but Jude Bellingham added the cherry on top in the waning minutes to secure a 6-1 win. It was a victory that, more than anything, was cathartic. These players knew that their underperformance on the pitch resulted in Alonso’s dismissal, and they knew that they needed to give their fans, as well as their new coach, something to take pride in.
Just like Zidane a decade ago, Arbeloa’s sole managerial experience has come with Real Madrid’s academy. He is far from the most experienced choice, but he does know the club like the back of his hand. He knows what has gone wrong for Real in the past 18 months since claiming a record-extending 15th Champions League title in Wembley. And he is well aware of the monumental task at hand, be that sorting out the club’s porous backline, or instilling a tactical identity into the club’s seemingly shapeless midfield, or making Vinícius feel appreciated and motivated again, or getting Jude Bellingham back to the sensational form that saw him take Europe by storm across his rookie 2023/24 season and establish himself as one of the world’s best players.
“Jude Bellingham is going to be vital wherever he is and whoever he’s playing for,” stated ex-Burnley defender Wayne Thomas. “He has all of the crucial attributes: he has the technical ability, he has the tactical ability, he has the physicality to be able to go from box to box if he’s playing as a 6 or 10…he could probably even play as a center back if he wanted to and still not look out of place. I think he is going to be integral to both Real Madrid and England, but Thomas Tuchel has alluded that it’s also about how he fits into the team and into the culture of the England setup. think he’s been really good in how he’s managed that, but hopefully, we’ll have a fit and firing Jude who’s ready to conquer the world on the biggest stage possible.”
If Real Madrid are to avoid a second-straight season without any major trophies, they’ll need to either win the Champions League or the LaLiga title (they are currently one point behind league leaders Barcelona). Only time will tell if Arbeloa can enact a similar turnaround to Zidane a decade ago, but one thing’s for sure: he’s got a challenging fixture list ahead of him. Real will travel to third-placed Villarreal and then pay a visit to José Mourinho’s Benfica before hosting Rayo Vallecano – who have drawn in four of their last five meetings vs. Real – followed by a trip to Valencia.
