
Real Madrid left the football world reeling after cutting ties with Xabi Alonso two weeks into the new year.
The pressure was always mounting on the former Bayer Leverkusen boss after Los Blancos surrendered their place atop the La Liga standings to bitter rivals Barcelona. Champions League defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City did not help Alonso’s cause, and a Spanish Super Cup failure all-but pushed the Spaniard out the door.