Overview
- Real Madrid announced the separation by mutual agreement in an official statement that thanked Alonso for his work and legacy.
- Álvaro Arbeloa, 43, steps up from Castilla after coaching throughout the club’s youth ranks and previously winning major honors as a Madrid and Spain defender.
- The change follows Barcelona’s 3-2 Supercopa victory in Jeddah, with a Raphinha brace and a Robert Lewandowski goal outweighing strikes by Vinícius Júnior and Gonçalo García.
- Late flashpoints included a direct red card for Frenkie de Jong after Kylian Mbappé entered, and TV images showed Real players leaving the ceremony rather than forming a guard of honour.
- Barcelona lifted a record 16th Supercopa and sit four points clear in LaLiga, with Madrid second as Arbeloa assumes the first team.