The Athletic FC Podcast Why have Real Madrid sacked Xabi Alonso?
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Jan 13, 2026 
David Ornstein, a senior football reporter known for insider info, James Horncastle, a tactical analyst, and Dermot Corrigan, a Madrid expert, dive into Real Madrid's surprising sacking of Xabi Alonso. They explore the friction between Alonso's methodical style and the club’s player-centric culture, revealing power dynamics in the dressing room. The discussion also covers the implications for the managerial market and how Alonso's exit could impact top clubs. Finally, they analyze Everton's search for clarity and potential hires amid these shifts.
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Club Power Trumps Managerial Plans
- Real Madrid's structure prioritises the president and senior players over managerial control.
- That institutional culture made Xabi Alonso's methodical, control-focused approach unlikely to succeed at the club.
Early Bust-Up Set The Tone
- Alonso's tenure was shaky from the start after a bust-up with Vinicius in last October's Clásico.
- Despite on-field results like the Supercopa win, Florentino Perez apparently never fully backed him.
Humility Wins Dressing-Room Battles
- Carlo Ancelotti's strength was humility and player empowerment rather than rigid tactical imposition.
- New-generation coaches like Xabi Alonso may lack that adaptive skill set for dressing-room dynamics at elite clubs.