Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa has officially confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the 2025–26 season. The announcement came after a dismal, trophy-less campaign for Los Blancos. Jose Mourinho is widely reported to be the Real Madrid new coach 2026, returning to the Santiago Bernabéu for a second spell.

Background: How Alvaro Arbeloa Became Real Madrid Coach

The story of Alvaro Arbeloa at Real Madrid begins with the short and troubled tenure of Xabi Alonso. In January 2026, Real Madrid parted ways with Xabi Alonso by mutual agreement, ending his brief stay at the Santiago Bernabéu. The decision followed a 3–2 loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup and the team falling four points behind in La Liga.

Alonso had joined Real Madrid on June 1, 2025, after a successful spell at Bayer Leverkusen, where he won a domestic double and reached the Europa League final. So did Xabi Alonso leave Real Madrid as a coach? Yes  and quite quickly. His tenure lasted just over seven months before the club decided to move on.

Madrid described it as a “mutual decision” and confirmed that Alvaro Arbeloa, the club’s B team coach, would succeed Alonso on an interim basis.

Details: Arbeloa’s Difficult Spell in Charge

Alvaro Arbeloa took over one of the most difficult jobs in world football at a moment of genuine crisis. Álvaro Arbeloa was appointed in January to replace Xabi Alonso, but neither coach was able to meet expectations.

Real Madrid are currently 11 points behind champions Barcelona in La Liga, with one round of games left to play. They were also eliminated from the Champions League quarterfinals by Bayern Munich.

On Friday, May 22, Arbeloa faced the media ahead of Real Madrid’s final La Liga match. When asked directly whether he would not be coaching the team next season, Arbeloa simply said “Yes,” confirming his departure amid widespread reports that veteran manager Jose Mourinho is returning to the club.

Los Blancos host Athletic Bilbao on Saturday at the Santiago Bernabéu in their final La Liga match of a turbulent campaign.

Quotes: Arbeloa’s Emotional Farewell

Alvaro Arbeloa, who has deep roots at Real Madrid as both a player and coach, did not hide his emotions during the press conference.

Arbeloa said he hoped his last match would be a “see you later” rather than a goodbye: “I hope it’s a see you later… I’ve always considered this my home, I’ve belonged to Madrid for 20 years in various roles.”

He added: “It will be my last game this season as coach of Real Madrid, I don’t know if it will be the last game of my life as coach of Real Madrid. We never know. I’ll try and enjoy it and try to get the win.”

On the question of whether he would stay on as part of Mourinho’s staff, Arbeloa was clear. He said Mourinho has a fantastic technical team around him, and if the Portuguese coach comes to Madrid, he will bring his own people  leaving no room for Arbeloa in the setup.

Real Madrid Coach List: A Season of Turbulence

The 2025–26 season has seen Real Madrid go through multiple coaches — a rare and damaging situation for one of the world’s biggest clubs. Here is the Real Madrid coach list for this turbulent season:

• Carlo Ancelotti — Left after the 2024–25 season
• Xabi Alonso — Appointed June 2025, sacked January 2026
• Alvaro Arbeloa — Appointed January 2026, leaving May 2026
• Jose Mourinho — Expected to be announced as Real Madrid new coach 2026

This rapid turnover reflects how badly the season has gone for a club used to dominating European football.

Why Did Xabi Alonso Leave Real Madrid as a Coach?

Many fans have asked: did Xabi Alonso leave Real Madrid as a coach, or was he sacked? The answer is both  it was framed as mutual but effectively a dismissal. If there was one overriding factor in Alonso’s failure at the Bernabéu, it was the way his relationship deteriorated with key players during his seven months in charge. Vinícius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Federico Valverde were among the star players who reportedly hadn’t bought into Alonso’s methods.

Vinícius’ relationship with Alonso started to suffer just weeks into his reign, and the player and his camp became convinced that the new head coach wasn’t a fan. Without the backing of the dressing room, no coach can survive at a club like Real Madrid.

Xabi Alonso has since moved to Chelsea. Chelsea appointed Xabi Alonso on a four-year contract starting July 1, 2026, recognizing that experience and pedigree count  lessons learned from a string of failed managerial appointments.

Who Is Real Madrid’s New Coach? Mourinho Returns

So who is Real Madrid’s new coach? All signs point to Jose Mourinho. Mourinho is set to replace his former player Álvaro Arbeloa, who took over in January after the firing of Xabi Alonso.

Club president Florentino Pérez praised Mourinho last week for “increasing Madrid’s competitiveness” during his first spell, and for building the foundations for the club’s subsequent success.

Sources told ESPN that Pérez is so set on appointing Mourinho that Madrid’s upcoming presidential elections are not expected to delay the announcement. The Special One previously managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning La Liga in the 2011–12 season. His return would mark a dramatic reunion between two of football’s most iconic figures.

There had been speculation linking Jurgen Klopp with the Real Madrid job at various points, but Klopp is not part of the current conversation. The Real Madrid new coach for 2026 is expected to be Mourinho, with a formal announcement imminent.

Impact: What This Means for Real Madrid

This has been one of Real Madrid’s worst seasons in recent memory. Finishing 11 points behind Barcelona in La Liga and exiting the Champions League in the quarterfinals represents a serious step backward for a club built on winning. The Real Madrid coach sacked situation  first Xabi Alonso, and now effectively Arbeloa  signals a deep instability that Mourinho will need to address quickly.

The appointment of Mourinho is a clear signal that Florentino Pérez is prioritizing experience and authority over the club’s earlier preference for fresh, progressive coaches. Whether Mourinho can restore Real Madrid to the top of European football remains to be seen, but his return is generating enormous interest across the footballing world.

Conclusion: A New Era Begins

Real Madrid closes out the 2025–26 season against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday  a meaningless final game in terms of the title race, but a symbolic one as Alvaro Arbeloa says farewell. The club then moves swiftly into a new chapter with Jose Mourinho as Real Madrid new coach 2026.

For Arbeloa, this may not be the end of his connection to the club he served as a player for seven years. He has said he hopes it is a “see you later” and given his deep ties to Real Madrid, that is entirely possible.

For Xabi Alonso, the next chapter is at Chelsea. For Real Madrid, the next chapter begins with Mourinho.

FAQs

Did the Real Madrid coach resign?

 Yes. Alvaro Arbeloa confirmed on May 22, 2026 that he will not be coaching Real Madrid next season, effectively resigning or departing by mutual agreement after a trophy-less campaign.

Who is the new coach of Real Madrid?

 Jose Mourinho is set to become the Real Madrid new coach 2026. The Portuguese manager has reportedly agreed to a two-year deal to return to the Santiago Bernabéu for a second spell, replacing Alvaro Arbeloa.

Why is Ancelotti leaving Real Madrid?

 Carlo Ancelotti had already departed Real Madrid at the end of the 2024–25 season before this current crisis unfolded. His exit paved the way for Xabi Alonso’s appointment, which itself ended in January 2026 due to poor results and a breakdown in relationships with key players like Vinícius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Federico Valverde.