Who is Real Madrid’s new coach following Xabi Alonso’s departure?

Real Madrid have unveiled a new coach following the unexpected sacking of Xabi Alonso.

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the footballing world, Real Madrid have officially announced the departure of head coach Xabi Alonso. 

The decision comes less than 24 hours after a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final held in Saudi Arabia.

In a swift double-announcement on Monday, the club confirmed that fellow Real Madrid icon Álvaro Arbeloa has been promoted from his role at Castilla to lead the first team immediately as the new head coach.

While the official club statement described the exit as a "mutual agreement," the timing tells a different story. Alonso,who arrived with massive hype from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, lasted only seven months at the Bernabéu. 

Despite a respectable record of 20 wins in 28 games, internal friction with high-profile stars, most notably a public spat with Vinícius Júnior over playing time, reportedly soured his tenure.

The Super Cup loss served as the final straw for President Florentino Pérez, who is famously known for having little patience when silverware slips away to Barcelona.