´Fantastic´ Alonso has great future despite Real Madrid exit, says Flick

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick believes Xabi Alonso has a great future in football despite his dismissal at Real Madrid after just seven months at the helm.

Alonso’s departure from Los Blancos came just a day after their defeat in the Supercopa de Espana final to Barcelona, with Raphinha scoring twice in that 3-2 triumph.

The Spaniard has since been replaced by former Madrid and Liverpool team-mate Alvaro Arbeloa, whose first game in charge comes on Wednesday in the Copa del Rey.

Indeed, Madrid’s clash against Albacete will see Arbeloa become the second Madrid manager to make their debut in the competition since Santiago Solari at Melilla in 2018.

Alonso won his other clash with Flick, a 2-1 victory in LaLiga back in October, and the Barcelona boss is confident that the 44-year-old will be back in the dugout soon.

“We have to continue, we have to think about what we can do better, but he’s a fantastic coach and also has a great future,” Flick told reporters.

6 – Real Madrid coaches with the best win percentage in all competitions:

75% – M. Pellegrini
71.9% – J. Mourinho
71% – R. Antic
70.8% – C. Ancelotti
70.6% – R. Firth
70.6% – XABI ALONSO

Decision. pic.twitter.com/pDj75Y4kOt

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 12, 2026

Alonso oversaw 34 games for Madrid, winning 24 of those matches (D4 L6), and boasting a 70.6% win rate.

Overall, of the permanent coaches to take charge of Madrid, Alonso has the fifth-best win rate, after Manuel Pellegrini (75%), Ancelotti (74.8%), Radomir Antic (72.2%) and Jose Mourinho (71.9%).

His spell at Madrid followed a successful tenure at Bayer Leverkusen, whom he led to the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal titles in an unbeaten domestic season in 2023-24.

“This is football, and it’s not my business, but what I can say is that I have a very good relationship with Xabi,” explained Flick.

“I met him at Leverkusen, when I was the [German] national coach, I always stayed in contact with him. He’s a fantastic coach.

“This is football, we have to accept these things. I wish him all the best, and I think he will get a new one, a big project for him and his team.”