(foto: Uradni Twitter profil kluba/zveze)
Xabi Alonso kicked off his tenure as Real Madrid head coach with an 11-hour day at Valdebebas, overseeing training and strategic meetings ahead of the Club World Cup opener vs Al Hilal.
Xabi Alonso has officially begun his time as Real Madrid head coach, with a long and intense first day at the club’s Valdebebas training complex.
The former midfield maestro arrived at 07:30 on Monday and remained at the facility until 18:30, leading a packed schedule that included multiple staff meetings, player evaluations, and a detailed training session with both first-team and academy players.
Eleven senior players joined Alonso on the pitch, including Courtois, Carvajal, Alaba, Militao, and Brahim, while Fede Valverde stayed in the gym due to lumbosciatica. Rüdiger, Mendy, Endrick, and Camavinga continued their recovery programmes.
Academy players were also involved, helping Alonso begin building squad cohesion ahead of Madrid’s first Club World Cup match on Wednesday, 18 June, against Al Hilal.
Alonso, known for his attention to detail, took time to familiarize himself with every department connected to the first team. He also got directly involved in some of the drills on the pitch, displaying a hands-on approach in his managerial debut.
Lucas Vazquez, Fran Garcia, Dani Ceballos, Rodrygo, and Marco Asensio were among the first-team regulars who completed the session in full.
The match against Al Hilal in Group H of the Club World Cup will mark the first official test of Alonso’s era as he looks to continue Madrid’s pursuit of international silverware with his own stamp on the squad.