MADRID, SPAIN – DECEMBER 10: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, and Xabi Alonso, Head Coach of Real Madrid, embrace prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between Real Madrid C.F. and Manchester City at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 10, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
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For Real Madrid, success is not the difficult part.
While other clubs strive for domestic or European titles, Real Madrid seems to stumble into Champions League triumphs.
When the soccer record books are written, there is no description of how the victory was achieved, just the bald statistics. But beyond those numbers, there is a collective sporting memory about whether a side merely won or was ‘great.’
Yet, while Real Madrid is the most decorated club of the century, its cultural impact is overshadowed by Barcelona, whose distinct footballing philosophy is celebrated far beyond mere trophies.
The team Pep Guardiola built in the early 2010s, combining the wonderful passing of Xavi Hernandez and Andrés Iniesta with the twinkling magic of Lionel Messi, will forever be remembered. That side redefined the game and played with an attacking philosophy, an influence that continues to be felt.
In contrast, Real Madrid assembles superteams. Although their attacking lines are revered, they lack the unified identity and enduring influence of Barcelona due to internal dysfunction.
Madrid’s hierarchy is frustrated that its success hasn’t matched Barcelona’s impact, fueling a search for its own Guardiola—a figure to build a dynasty rooted in club history.
Zinedine Zidane, who oversaw three Champions League victories, was often hailed as a potential candidate to fill this void.
Although he delivered success, there was never a coherent tactical philosophy that would have merited the title of Madrid’s Guardiola.
However, the appointment of Xabi Alonso raised the possibility that Real Madrid was seeking to shift toward a team approach based on tactics rather than relying solely on individual brilliance. Alonso brought a fresh outlook as the first modern Real Madrid manager seen as likely to create a recognizable tactical identity.
Alonso held a unique position; not only had he played for Real Madrid and under Pep Guardiola, but he also arrived following notable success at Bayer Leverkusen, credited to his tactical innovations and strong organizational impact.
The question became whether Alonso’s tactical principles and organizational methods could be effective in the demanding Real Madrid environment, which historically prioritizes star players over system.
The answer emphatically was no.
From the earliest days, there were murmurings of player unrest or, in the case of Vinicius Junior, open public dissent.
MADRID, SPAIN – OCTOBER 26: Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid is escorted off the pitch by Luis Llopis, goalkeeper coach of Real Madrid, after the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 26, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
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Alonso’s authority was weakened by unrest, and poor results led to his early dismissal.
Madrid’s leadership faltered, never empowering their manager to instill a collective philosophy—highlighting the ongoing failure to embrace the approach that made Barcelona memorable.
So it is of little surprise that his statement upon leaving was dripping with regret.
“This professional chapter is over, and it didn’t go as we would have liked,” he wrote.
“Coaching Real Madrid has been both an honour and a responsibility.
“I thank the club, the players and, above all, the fans and the Madridista community for their trust and support.
“I leave with respect, gratitude and the pride of having done my best.”
According to Spanish soccer expert Guillem Balague there wasn’t really one big reason giving by the club when it showed him the door.
“The explanations offered to him and his entourage were, at best, ambiguous,” he wrote in his BBC blog.
“He had not been able to implement the football that had made him so successful at Bayer Leverkusen.” “The team’s physical condition was not ideal.” “Players had not improved.” “They did not appear to be playing for him.”
But as Balague pointed out; “beginning a managerial career at Real Madrid is the hardest challenge in football. Nobody says no to Madrid, not even those who understand how difficult it is to transform a culture built on individual brilliance into a modern collective where everyone presses and everyone defends.”
It’s tempting to believe that Alonso was always going to fail. Their hierarchy simply wasn’t ever going to support the manager to the level required.
Alonso’s Leverkusen played with intensity and clear vision, but concerns arose as he appeared to be adapting to Madrid instead of imposing his style.
“Being Madrid manager is not about changing [the culture], it is about adapting,” Alonso said.
“We know the culture of Real Madrid pretty well; that is why it is the biggest club in the world. You have to adapt, learn a lot, interact with the players. Some days are good, some not so good. We have to face that with energy and positivity, that is the only way to turn things around.”
Ultimately, Real Madrid’s structure and culture ensure it will never replicate Barcelona’s legacy-defining identity, no matter the tactics or managers it adopts.