Xabi Alonso Out at Real Madrid After Just Seven Months

Real Madrid has fired head coach Xabi Alonso. The club announced his departure "by mutual consent" on Monday. The decision follows a 3-2 loss to rival Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday. That defeat left Madrid four points behind Barcelona at the top of La Liga. Alonso, a former Madrid player, had been in charge for only just over seven months. He started the job at the club's Valdebebas training ground in June. He will be replaced immediately by Álvaro Arbeloa. Arbeloa, a friend and former teammate of Alonso's at both Madrid and Liverpool, was previously the coach of Castilla, Madrid's reserve team. His appointment is considered a short-term solution.