Xabi Alonso made his first public response after being dismissed by Real Madrid, sharing a message for the players and the club's fans.
On 13 January 2026, Spanish coach Xabi Alonso spoke out for the first time after officially parting ways with Real Madrid, surprising the football world as he had managed the team for only 232 days.
Real Madrid confirmed the termination of Alonso's contract on Monday, 12 January, by mutual agreement following a dramatic 2-3 loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Supercopa held in Saudi Arabia.
The 44-year-old coach, who joined from Bayer Leverkusen in May 2025, leaves Real Madrid with a record of 24 wins in 34 matches across all competitions, guiding the team to second place in La Liga, four points behind Barcelona after 19 games.
After the separation, Alonso released a statement via his personal Instagram account, acknowledging that coaching Real Madrid was the highest honor in his career and sending a message to the players he worked with.
"This chapter in my career has come to an end, and it did not go as we hoped."
"Managing Real Madrid was both an honor and a great responsibility."
"I thank the club, the players, and above all, the Madridista fans. I leave with respect, gratitude, and pride for having given my best."
Although his tenure at Santiago Bernabéu ended abruptly, Alonso remains a highly regarded coach, having made history by leading Leverkusen to a domestic double and a Europa League final in the 2023/24 season, along with an undefeated Bundesliga record.
Reports indicate that Alonso is attracting interest from several Premier League clubs, especially Liverpool and Manchester United, which could become his next destinations in his coaching career.