Xabi Alonso was dismissed largely because a high‑profile Supercopa defeat to Barcelona crystallised existing doubts about his authority, player relations (notably incidents involving Vinícius and tensions with stars like Mbappé), and his failure to “manage up” within Florentino Pérez’s results‑obsessed Real Madrid environment — a decision driven as much by politics and optics as by on‑pitch form.
Quick summary of the reasons
Immediate trigger: Losing the 2026 Supercopa final to Barcelona — a defeat at a trophy decider that carried outsized weight at Real Madrid.
Player‑management issues: Public rows and visible tensions with key stars (Vinícius Júnior’s outburst after a substitution and perceived frictions with Mbappé) undermined Alonso’s standing with the squad and president.
Political/board dynamics: Florentino Pérez prioritises trophies, image and control; Alonso’s perceived inability to align with that culture and to secure the club’s marquee players’ loyalty weakened his position.
Mixed results and media pressure: A run of uninspiring performances and dropped points earlier in the season fuelled a media and internal narrative that a change was needed.
What happened on the pitch
The Supercopa loss was treated as a decisive failure because El Clásico finals carry symbolic importance at Madrid; a single high‑profile defeat can outweigh steady league form in the club’s calculus. Alonso left with Madrid close to the LaLiga summit and in Champions League contention, but the trophyless return from Jeddah proved fatal.
Off‑field and dressing‑room dynamics
Vinícius incident: A public outburst by Vinícius after being substituted earlier in the season damaged Alonso’s perceived authority and strained his relationship with Florentino Pérez, who is determined to keep the club’s star assets happy.
Mbappé and star power: Reports suggest tensions between the coach and superstar players influenced the board’s confidence in Alonso’s control over the squad.
Institutional context and Pérez’s priorities
Florentino Pérez’s pattern: Pérez has a history of short managerial tenures when immediate results or image targets aren’t met; the president’s legacy project (stadium, trophies, global brand) raises the bar for any coach at the Bernabéu.
Managing upward matters: Observers argued Alonso never fully mastered the political side of the job at Madrid — courting media, placating influential players and aligning with the president’s timeline — and that late attempts to adapt came too late.
Bottom line and what to watch next
Short answer: Alonso’s sacking was not a single‑issue decision; it was the culmination of a trophy‑defining loss, strained player relationships, inconsistent performances and a mismatch with Real Madrid’s high‑pressure, politically charged leadership model.
Watch: How the club balances immediate results with longer‑term stability under the new coach, and whether Pérez’s approach to managerial turnover changes after this high‑profile dismissal.
