Real Madrid rule out Zidane if Xabi Alonso is dismissed - internal options on the table

Multiple Spanish reports indicate Zinedine Zidane is not an option to replace Xabi Alonso if Real Madrid decide to make a change. The club is assessing contingencies but senior voices point toward internal pathways first, with Alvaro Arbeloa’s name resurfacing, while a few external candidates are being floated by fans and pundits. The news sparked intense debate among supporters, from calls to back Alonso to speculation that Zidane prefers the France job. Key question remains timing and direction - back stability or pivot quickly. The club’s public stance is calm, but privately they are mapping scenarios.

Information discussed on a leading late-night Spanish radio program indicated the club has no current plan to turn to Zinedine Zidane in the event of a managerial change. This comes amid a period of scrutiny over recent performances and growing noise around succession planning. Inside Valdebebas, contingency mapping is standard practice each season, especially ahead of a congested winter schedule and European knockout phases. While the tone from the board remains supportive in public, internal evaluation of pathways is ongoing, from promoting within to sounding out external profiles if necessary.

🚨 JUST IN: Zinedine Zidane will NOT be the replacement IF Xabi Alonso is sacked. @ellarguero

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

If Real Madrid definitively rule out a Zidane return, the immediate impact is clarity - and a narrowing of realistic pathways. Zidane has always represented a comfort choice for the dressing room and boardroom alike, thanks to his trophy haul and aura. Removing that card from the deck shifts focus onto alignment and continuity rather than nostalgia. It pushes the conversation toward internal solutions like Alvaro Arbeloa, who understands the academy pipeline, squad dynamics and club demands, or toward a carefully profiled external coach who can slot into the current squad’s technical identity without a jarring reset.

There is also a political dimension. Zidane’s long-standing interest in managing France has been widely documented, matching some fans’ belief that his next bench is international rather than club. For Madrid, committing to a non-Zidane route reduces public speculation cycles and protects the current coach from constant shadows. Commercially, it steadies sponsor narratives around stability instead of soap opera returns. Sporting-wise, it keeps the tactical project coherent - pressing triggers, build-up patterns, role clarity for Vinicius, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham - without pausing for a wholesale reboot.

Finally, the timing matters. Any mid-season pivot risks European momentum and dressing-room equilibrium. A firm stance on no Zidane suggests the club values structure over short-term sentiment, which usually correlates with better outcomes across a full campaign.

Reaction

Fan reaction split fast and loud. A big bloc insists that if Zidane is not coming, stick with Alonso - ride out the turbulence and let the project breathe. That line echoes the comments I saw like keep Alonso, he will come good, and the view that he is one of the few managers the squad will truly listen to. Others asked bluntly who comes in then, with Alvaro Arbeloa’s name recurring as the only choice if a change is forced.

A skeptical group framed Zidane’s stance as a long wait for the France job, something supporters have debated for years. It feeds a resignation that a third act at the Bernabeu is unlikely and that Madrid must cut a new path. There was also a left-field push for an external profile such as Erik ten Hag, argued by some for tactical structure and youth development. Not everyone bought that - skepticism on fit and timing remained.

Emotions ran hot about the notion of sacking Alonso at all. Some fans bristled at the disrespect, demanding patience after flashes of high-level football. Others stressed results talk louder than rhetoric at Madrid, urging the club to be ruthless if performances stall. The common thread: if Zidane is off the table, the club must either back Alonso fully or move with a crystal-clear plan, not a stopgap.

Social reactions

FFS! He's one of the few coaches these divas might actually listen to...!

My Inner "Paz" (@denilend8)

Zizou’s a tempting backup, but Alonso’s fate is first.

Yena (@YenaLust)

Hope naglesmann takes over and klopp moves to german job ? Is that even possible

parisen (@Le11Parisien)

Prediction

Three realistic scenarios sit in front of Madrid. First - and most likely - the club doubles down on Alonso, addresses specific structural issues and rides the campaign with tactical tweaks rather than upheaval. Expect incremental adjustments: stabilizing defensive distances in transition, sharper roles for the right flank in ball progression, and a renewed emphasis on set-piece efficiency. This path keeps the dressing room calm and protects Champions League rhythm.

Second, if results force a change, an internal bridge like Alvaro Arbeloa becomes credible. He knows the academy core, the club’s standards, and could deliver a clean handover with minimal disruption. The risk is experience at the very top level, but the upside is continuity and quick adoption of in-house principles. The calendar - fixture congestion and registration deadlines - also favors a plug-in solution over an overhaul.

Third, a targeted external hire. Ten Hag is the name fans toss around, but Madrid would evaluate fit on pressing intensity, build-up demands and man-management with elite attackers. Any outsider must show they can enhance what already works for the squad rather than chase a stylistic U-turn. My read: if the club moves at all, they will prefer a short-list interview process behind closed doors, then a decisive call. If they do not move, they will publicly align behind Alonso and drain the noise quickly.

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Conclusion

Taking Zidane off the board simplifies a complicated conversation. It narrows the lens to what Madrid value right now: stability, tactical clarity, and a manager who aligns with the squad’s strengths without turning the season into a restart. The smart money says the club holds its nerve, because the cost of disruption mid-season is almost always higher than the upside, especially when the team has shown sequences of high control and chance creation.

If pressure spikes, an internal path offers the cleanest transition. Arbeloa would not be a sentimental pick - he would be a continuity pick, judged on whether he can maintain standards while protecting the dressing room’s balance. An external appointment only makes sense if the fit is near-perfect and the timing does not undercut European ambitions.

Fans want answers and the club wants calm. Removing the Zidane drumbeat gives Madrid room to operate. Back the coach with conviction or change with conviction - those are the two coherent strategies. Hesitation is the only real risk here.