Spanish football giants Real Madrid have announced that their manager, Xabi Alonso, has left the club by mutual consent after just 28 games.

The former Liverpool midfielder was appointed in the summer after leaving Bayer Leverkusen, who he led to the German title two years ago.

He has been replaced by another ex-Liverpool player Alvaro Arbeloa, who has been coach of Real Madrid's B team since June 2025 and also spent the last six years working with the academy.

Alonso departs with Real second in the LaLiga table, four points behind rivals Barcelona at the midway stage of the campaign.

He had achieved the best win percentage of any Real Madrid head coach in the last decade. But the club lost to the league leaders Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup for the second year running on Sunday.

Alonso's side have also lost to both Liverpool and Manchester City in the Champions League this season. Real finished runners-up in LaLiga last season.

Real Madrid said the club had parted ways with Alonso by "mutual agreement".

"Xabi Alonso will always have the affection and admiration of all Madrid fans because he is a Real Madrid legend and has always represented the values ​​of our club," a statement said. "Real Madrid will always be his home."