Benatia Says Player Influence Hurts Modern Football
Former Marseille sporting director Mehdi Benatia criticized growing player power, citing Xabi Alonso's short Real Madrid tenure.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Soccer
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Former Olympique de Marseille sporting director Mehdi Benatia criticized the growing influence of players in modern football during an appearance on Canal+. He said the dressing room turned against Xabi Alonso after he tried to apply his principles, and Alonso was later dismissed by Real Madrid.
Why it matters
Benatia's comments add a voice from inside club management to an ongoing debate about how much authority players hold over coaches and squads. The case of Alonso, who left Real Madrid after about three months and then took charge of Chelsea, gives the argument a concrete example.
Alonso's three-month Real Madrid tenure ended in dismissal last season, a period Benatia cited as evidence of player influence. The source does not detail the specific disputes that led to the decision.
The players
Mehdi Benatia
Former Olympique de Marseille sporting director and ex-Juventus and Bayern Munich defender who made the remarks on Canal+.
Xabi Alonso
Former Real Madrid coach and Bayern Munich midfielder who was dismissed by Real Madrid last season and later took charge of Chelsea.
The details
Benatia, who played alongside Alonso at Bayern Munich and alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus, said the dressing room turned against Alonso after he tried to apply his principles. Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, joined Juventus in 2018, and Benatia pointed to the wider pressure players can exert on coaching staff.
Timeline
2018: Ronaldo joins Juventus, where Benatia was also playing.
Last season: Alonso is dismissed as Real Madrid coach after roughly three months.
Following his dismissal, Alonso takes charge of Chelsea.
Season Trajectory
Benatia's comments reflect a recurring theme in elite football, where a coach's short tenure can reshape the balance of power between squads and management. Alonso's move from Real Madrid to Chelsea shows how quickly high-profile managers can change clubs after a dismissal.
The remarks may shape how fans and analysts read future coaching changes, especially at clubs where star players have strong influence. Readers following Alonso's Chelsea tenure can use his Real Madrid experience as a reference point for how squads respond to new coaches.
The takeaway
Coaching authority in elite football depends as much on the squad's backing as on tactical ideas, a dynamic that short tenures often expose. Watching how managers manage dressing-room relationships from the start can be as revealing as the results on the pitch.
Further reading
For more on the clubs and coaching changes behind this debate, see the Soccer section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Goal.
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