The Spanish club Real Madrid is experiencing a period marked by anticipation and talk about the future of its current coach, Xabi Alonso, who took over his duties last summer with a three-year contract. Alonso is widely appreciated for his ability to update working methods after the golden period led by Carlo Ancelotti.
But his start was not ideal, as he suffered a severe blow in his first real test, losing to Paris Saint-Germain 0-4 in the Club World Cup semi-final, which shocked fans and followers.
Despite Real Madrid achieving good results in the Spanish League and the Champions League, the team’s overall performance was not satisfactory, leading to increased rumors about the coach’s future. Before El Clasico, expectations indicated that any loss to Barcelona could be a “point of no return” for Alonso.
The victory in El Clasico restored some confidence to the coach, but this confidence quickly receded after stumbling against Liverpool and Rayo Vallecano, which once again raised doubts about his ability to lead the team in difficult times, according to the Spanish newspaper “Mundo Deportivo.”
Doubts within the club and dressing rooms
Despite the public support shown by the club, there are leaks indicating some dissatisfaction among senior officials due to some controversial technical decisions, such as replacing Vinicius in El Clasico.
Indications also suggest that his relationships with some prominent players such as Valverde, Bellingham, Rodrygo, and even Endrick are not at their best, and there seems to be a complete lack of compatibility with his training style.
The club looks forward to a clear improvement in results in order to calm the atmosphere, but sources close to the administration confirm that the match against Manchester City on December 10 may be decisive in determining Alonso’s fate.
Xabi Alonso’s philosophy and Real Madrid’s values
During the opening of the academic year 2025/2026 at the Real Madrid Graduate School in the City Hall, Alonso spoke about his football career and his training path, stressing his adherence to the values of Real Madrid that he acquired as a player.
He said: “We must respect the history of Real Madrid and how this great club was built, and strive for excellence and recognition of the effort made at all levels, not only on the field.”
He added: “Everything here must be interconnected and coherent; at Real Madrid, things are not done halfway, and this is essential to understand.”
Choosing coaching and passion for the game
Regarding the reason for choosing to coach the first team, Alonso said: “I was fortunate to discover my passion for football at a young age, and this makes it easier to choose your life path. Once you choose it, you must be prepared to pay the price, whether in terms of effort or commitment.”
He continued: “You have to be prepared to give your best, starting with getting the opportunity, to constantly developing yourself. You must also have the steadfastness and work ethic that have been instilled in you since childhood.”
He pointed out that his motivation for entering the field of coaching was curiosity about the game: “Now I am a coach, but the best thing about it is the game itself. I envy the players sometimes, and this is a healthy envy because it drives you to understand the game from the inside.”
Gradual start and learning path
Alonso pointed out that his experience with the youth teams at Real Madrid Castilla helped him develop gradually: “I wanted to learn and develop gradually until I reached the first team.”
He added: “My university experience in Liverpool taught me to listen more than to speak, the importance of steadfastness and courage, and how to earn the respect of others in a constructive way. Discovering different cultures and meeting people from all over the world helped me grow, and perhaps I would not have reached here if I had not experienced this as a player.”
Pérez’s future with Real Madrid
In the administrative context, reports have increased in recent days about Florentino Pérez, the president of Real Madrid, intending to leave his position next year, although his current term continues until 2028.
Radio “Onda Cero” reported through journalist Alberto Pereiro that Pérez is not thinking at all about leaving before the end of his term, and pointed out that the club president will answer all questions related to his future during the General Assembly scheduled to be held on November 23. He also confirmed that the meeting to discuss the membership model within the club will be held in 2025 and not in 2026, as was circulated.
The Spanish journalist Pepe Álvarez had stirred controversy with a tweet in which he said that Pérez had decided to leave his position in 2025, and that he is currently working on organizing a smooth transition of power within the club, regardless of the results of the expected referendum.
This controversy comes at a time when Real Madrid is going through a sensitive stage at the sports and administrative levels, especially with the huge projects supervised by Pérez, most notably the “Santiago Bernabéu” stadium development project, which the royal president considers the foundation of “future Madrid.”
Despite the absence of any official statement from the club denying or confirming these reports, Pérez’s focus on building a long-term project, in addition to his constant talk about preparing a new generation of leaders, increases speculation that the club may witness a historic change in its presidency in the coming years.
