Former Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has offered his perspective on why Xabi Alonso’s brief spell as head coach at the Santiago Bernabeu failed to meet expectations.
Alonso officially ended his seven-month tenure as Real Madrid manager last week following the club’s Spanish Super Cup defeat to Barcelona. The decision to part ways was reached by mutual consent, with former Madrid defender Álvaro Arbeloa immediately appointed as his successor.
The 44-year-old arrived in Madrid last summer with significant expectations after an impressive spell at Bayer Leverkusen, where he earned widespread praise for his tactical acumen and silverware success. However, Alonso was unable to translate that success to the Spanish capital, and reports suggested growing discontent within the squad over his methods.
Alonso himself pointed to issues related to player power, with several senior figures reportedly unhappy with his approach and influence in the dressing room.
Speaking on TNT Sports, as quoted by Marca, Bale suggested that Alonso’s downfall stemmed from focusing too heavily on tactics rather than managing personalities — a crucial requirement at Real Madrid.
“He’s an incredible coach,” Bale said. “What he achieved at Bayer Leverkusen speaks for itself. He’s won trophies and coached teams brilliantly. But when you arrive at Real Madrid, you don’t just need to be a coach — you need to be a manager.
“You have to manage egos in the dressing room. You don’t need to overcomplicate things tactically because there are superstars who can decide games in a moment. He’s a great tactician, but at Real Madrid, it just didn’t work.”
Reports during Alonso’s time in charge suggested strained relationships with certain players, including Vinícius Júnior, further highlighting the internal challenges he faced at the club.
Despite the disappointment, Alonso’s brief Madrid experience is widely viewed as a valuable learning curve. The Real Madrid job remains one of the most demanding roles in world football, where success often hinges on handling elite personalities as much as tactical brilliance.
If Alonso applies those lessons in future roles, a return to the Bernabeu may not be completely ruled out down the line.
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