Xabi Alonso has left his position as Real Madrid manager after less than eight months in charge, with his former Liverpool team-mate Alvaro Arbeloa taking over. The La Liga side said former Bayer Leverkusen manager Alonso, 44, had left by “mutual consent” and minutes later announced Arbeloa’s appointment. The former Spain and Real full-back has been promoted from coaching Real’s B team.
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Hansi Flick has been confirmed as the new coach of Barcelona, after the sacking of Xavi Hernández. The former Bayern Munich manager joins on a two-year deal, worth about €3.5m a year plus incentives. The 59-year-old had been out of work since his sacking as Germany’s coach in September last year. Barcelona described Flick as a manager “known for his intense, ambitious high press” and cited a “wide experience at club and international level, in which he has won practically every title that can be won in world football”.
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