Why does Real Madrid prefer stars rather than tactics?

Real Madrid's brilliant history is full of legendary players and stunning moments, but why does this legendary club always prioritize the personal charm of the stars over tactical innovation? This article will explore why Real Madrid often chooses individual excellence over coaching tactical layout, how this philosophy affects the club, and what signals may signal Xavi Alonso's tenure in the future.

When we talk about Real Madrid, we tend to focus more on players than coaches, and more on personal flashes than on inspiration to hone on the training ground. This ingrained trend can be traced back to at least the 1950s, when Real Madrid president Santiago Bernabeu was committed to signing the best talents, including Di Stefano, Puskas and Copa. This laid the foundation for the club's first golden age, with Real Madrid winning the European Cup five consecutive times between 1956 and 1960.

This tradition continues to this day, and the current chairman Florentino Perez has repeatedly stated that he is following in the footsteps of the Bernabeu. However, this is not a constant theme, and there are periods of wanting to go against the current. For example, the appointment of Xavi Alonso to replace Ancelotti is an example. We've seen his different approaches in the Club World Cup, although Real Madrid was eliminated 0-4 by Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals.

So why does Real Madrid so tend to rely on the leadership of star players rather than coaches? What does this mean for Alonso when building his new team? Perhaps the best example of Real Madrid's preference for individuals over tactics comes from their most successful coaches.

Real Madrid's board of directors, especially its chairman, played a key role in the club's sports decisions. Their view is that coaches can come and go, while those senior managers can provide a stable long-term program. But one of the consequences is that coaches have less room to make decisions than other clubs. This means that those who are chosen to sit on the Bernabeu coaching table are often known for their diplomatic abilities rather than their grand ideas.

After Alonso took over Real Madrid, he took a different approach. After the game against Juventus, he said in a DAZN interview that during the season, he listened to Ancelotti's opinions on the balance of the team's four forwards, Mbappe, Vinicius, Rodrigo and Bellingham are all star players. Alonso stressed that players should work hard to defend and work on equality.

Real Madrid's reliance on star power has brought great success, but it also brought unique challenges, as it showed in its history and early in Alonso's tenure. Can Alonso redefine the club's identity through a tactical revolution, or will history repeat itself and the power of players dominate? Only time can tell us this.