As Xabi Alonso wrapped up his final press conference of 2025 in the Santiago Bernabéu press room, he had one last remark for the gathered journalists. Following Real Madrid’s 2-0 victory over Sevilla in LaLiga, Alonso was ready to address the ongoing rumors surrounding his future as the team prepared for a well-deserved Christmas break.
“Happy holidays to everyone,” he said while rising from his seat, and with a grin added: “Tranquilos” (“Stay calm”). This was a lighthearted jab at the media’s recent overreactions regarding his coaching status amid a challenging period for the team.
The underlying message as the league entered its two-week festive break was clear: Don’t worry about my future. I’ll be here in January.
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Alonso’s first six months at the helm of Real Madrid have been anything but uneventful. “Tomorrow, the rock ‘n’ roll begins,” he declared before his debut match at the FIFA Club World Cup, and since then, it has been a whirlwind.
Despite a rough end to the summer tournament in the U.S., where Madrid suffered a 4-0 semifinal defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, the 2025-26 season kicked off with a remarkable 13 wins out of 14 matches. Alonso’s squad appeared to function smoothly, albeit without flair.
However, the situation quickly deteriorated. A shocking 5-2 defeat to Atlético Madrid in September was followed by a UEFA Champions League loss to Liverpool, three LaLiga draws, and further defeats against Celta Vigo and Manchester City, plunging the team into a perceived crisis.
Sources revealed to ESPN that Madrid was contemplating alternative coaching options earlier this month, and three unconvincing victories last week against Alavés, Talavera de la Reina, and Sevilla did little to reinforce Alonso’s position. Despite his call for calm, he enters the Christmas season facing uncertainty about his future.
Real Madrid is known for its impatience when coaches fail to deliver results. For context, former manager Julen Lopetegui was dismissed just 137 days into his term, and Rafa Benítez lasted a mere 215 days.
A look at the performance of Madrid’s coaches over the past 15 years indicates that while Alonso’s results may not match those of his predecessors, the difference isn’t significant. The challenge facing club president Florentino Pérez and his advisors is to determine whether Alonso’s results warrant the dismissal of a promising young coach who is also a club legend, following his successful tenure at Bayer Leverkusen.
For this comparison, we’ve excluded Madrid’s Club World Cup matches, as Alonso has referred to them as an extension of the previous season, a scenario with which previous coaches did not contend. Looking at their first 25 matches in LaLiga, the Champions League, and the Copa del Rey for the 2025-26 season provides a clearer picture.
José Mourinho (August-December 2010)
Mourinho, having just won the Champions League with Inter Milan, faced the challenge of dethroning Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona at Madrid. In his first 25 games, he achieved 20 wins (80% win rate) and kept an impressive 15 clean sheets. While his team delivered thrilling results, including an 8-0 Copa del Rey victory over Levante, they did suffer a notorious 5-0 defeat to Barcelona at home.
Carlo Ancelotti (August-December 2013)
Following Mourinho’s intense era, Madrid sought stability with Ancelotti, who secured 19 wins in his first 25 matches, translating to a 76% win rate. Although his team was less defensively solid, conceding 26 goals compared to Mourinho’s 10, they scored a remarkable 71 goals. Nonetheless, defeats to Atlético Madrid and Barcelona indicated that not everything was smooth sailing.
Rafa Benítez (August 2015-January 2016)
Replacing the laid-back Ancelotti, Benítez’s rigid tactics resulted in just 16 wins from 25 matches, yielding a 64% win rate. While the team did celebrate a few significant victories, including a 10-2 rout of Rayo Vallecano, a crushing 4-0 defeat to Barcelona sealed Benítez’s fate.
Zinedine Zidane (January-May 2016)
Inheriting a turbulent situation, Zidane steadied the ship, replicating Ancelotti’s 76% win rate with 19 victories in his first 25 games. His balanced approach led to 11 clean sheets and proved pivotal to the team’s long-term success, resulting in multiple Champions League titles.
Julen Lopetegui (August-October 2018)
Lopetegui’s tenure began under controversy and ended in disappointment, achieving only 46% victories in his first 14 matches. A series of poor results and a lack of scoring left fans and club officials disillusioned, leading to his dismissal.
Santi Solari (October 2018-March 2019)
Solari, another internal promotion, recorded a respectable 72% win rate during his first 25 matches but fell short in scoring goals. His decisions to drop key players led to some controversial moments, and defeats paired with early exits from competitions hindered his reputation.
Zinedine Zidane (March-November 2019)
Zidane’s return, amidst a chaotic season, reflected in a 48% win rate, as the team struggled both offensively and defensively. Although the situation improved in the following months, the team ended the season without silverware.
Carlo Ancelotti (August-December 2021)
Ancelotti’s second spell was remarkably successful, achieving 19 wins in 25 matches (76% win percentage) and bouncing back to win the LaLiga and Champions League titles shortly thereafter.
Xabi Alonso (August-December 2025)
Xabi Alonso has achieved a 72% win rate in his first 25 matches, which parallels Solari’s start but falls behind that of Mourinho, Ancelotti, and Zidane. Alonso’s team averages 2.08 goals per game while conceding one goal per game. His remarkable victory against Barcelona stands in contrast to recent struggles, as consistent performance remains elusive.
The fan discontent heightened during a recent match against Sevilla, reflecting a growing impatience. Despite ongoing injuries that have hindered the squad, there’s hope that, with time, Alonso can navigate the team back to its winning ways. However, patience is a commodity in short supply at the Bernabéu.