Xabi Alonso’s Unexpected Departure from Real Madrid

Xabi Alonso’s dismissal from Real Madrid on Monday has taken the football community by surprise after he had only spent eight months in charge.

Interim Management

The club announced that Alvaro Arbeloa will temporarily lead the team, but they may look to appoint a more seasoned coach in the near future.

Potential Candidates

Jürgen Klopp, who has been a long-standing interest for the Spanish club, is reportedly high on their list of possible successors. The German coach left Liverpool in 2024 and currently holds the position of Head of Global Soccer at Red Bull, indicating he may not be eager to return to a managerial role.

Following the news of Alonso’s firing, Klopp was questioned about any contact from Real Madrid. He noted that he had received numerous messages regarding the situation.

Klopp’s Response

“Indeed, I have been contacted—not by Madrid specifically, but definitely by some who felt it necessary to reach out to me about this,” he explained. “This indicates that times have changed. On one hand, the expectations at Real Madrid are immense. The decision made so soon after a cup final loss to Barcelona speaks volumes.”

He continued, “Rumors had been circulating for a while regarding this situation, and to clarify, this is entirely separate from me, and it didn’t provoke any thoughts on my part either, which might have been the next inquiry.”

“I was surprised, that’s for sure—genuinely surprised. After that, a few friends reached out, and I responded with various emojis.”