Álvaro Arbeloa Takes the Helm at Real Madrid Following Alonso’s Departure

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in Spanish and has been translated.

Álvaro Arbeloa, who has never coached a first-team match in his career, is set to take his place on the Real Madrid bench as the successor to Xabi Alonso following his successful tenure with the club’s youth academy. The former Madrid and Spain defender was managing the club’s B team, Castilla, until Monday and now assumes the role after Alonso’s dismissal, with the support of club president Florentino Pérez.

Multiple sources have reported to ESPN that Arbeloa did not fully convince the Madrid board due to his lack of experience at the elite level. However, he enjoys the backing of Pérez. Other candidates for the position included Santiago Solari, Zinedine Zidane, and Jürgen Klopp, but Arbeloa emerged as the frontrunner after the defeat to Barcelona in the Supercopa.

At 42 years of age, Arbeloa has a strong rapport with Pérez and is highly regarded within the organization. With Madrid currently trailing four points behind LaLiga leaders Barcelona at the season’s midpoint, the club is optimistic that Arbeloa’s character and expertise will help turn the team’s fortunes around, starting with the Copa del Rey round-of-16 match against Albacete on Wednesday.

Arbeloa is recognized for his bold and proactive coaching philosophy, favoring attacking football. His preferred formation is a 4-3-3, featuring a defensive pivot and two midfielders adept at ball handling and possessing good vision.

A hallmark of Arbeloa’s time at La Fábrica, the club’s academy, has been his dedication to nurturing young talent. He prioritizes quality over age or prior experience, exemplified by his decision to promote midfielder Thiago Pitarch to the Juvenil A team when he was still with the Juvenil C squad, quickly recognizing his potential.

Having risen through Madrid’s reserve teams early in his playing career from 2002 to 2005, Arbeloa exudes personality and competitive spirit, heavily influenced by former coach José Mourinho. He is known for his candidness, both on the pitch and during press conferences. Those familiar with him highlight his ability to connect with players and establish rapport within the dressing room, a crucial skill as he transitions to the first team.

Arbeloa’s notable achievements in Real Madrid’s youth academy include leading the 2004 Juvenil A class, where talents like Nico Paz, Gonzalo García, César Palacios, Jacobo Ramón, and Manuel Ángel excelled. Under his guidance, the team won the league, the cup, and the Copa de Campeones, showcasing exceptional football.

He has secured 151 victories in 200 games at La Fábrica, leaving a notable imprint with his character and interventionist style. This season, he has led Castilla to a commendable fourth place in the third-tier Primera Federación.

Mourinho has been a significant figure in Arbeloa’s career, having coached him in the first team from 2010 to 2013 after his return from Liverpool, where he was initially brought back by Manuel Pellegrini. Arbeloa participated in 122 matches across all competitions under Mourinho, securing one LaLiga title and one Copa del Rey.

The influence of Mourinho extends beyond the tactical realm. In a 2017 interview with El Chiringuito, Arbeloa expressed his intention to embody the principles he learned from ‘The Special One’ in all aspects of his life, emphasizing a forward-thinking mindset and authenticity.

While Mourinho remains the most impactful coach in Arbeloa’s career, he is not the only one who has shaped his journey. He played 98 matches under Rafa Benítez during his time at Liverpool, where he established himself at the elite level, and had six appearances for Benítez during his brief return to Real Madrid in the 2015-16 season.

The competitive edge Arbeloa gained while playing in the physically demanding Premier League in the mid-2000s significantly influenced his player preparation, akin to Mikel Arteta’s experiences at Everton during that era.

Additionally, during his time at Real Madrid, he was coached by Carlo Ancelotti, where he made 65 appearances, contributing to the club’s 10th UEFA Champions League title. He also played under Pellegrini, who fielded him 38 times, while other coaches included Mariano García Remón, Vanderlei Luxemburgo, and Zinedine Zidane.

Another key figure in Arbeloa’s career is Joaquín Caparrós, the first coach to recognize his potential when Arbeloa struggled to find his place among Real Madrid’s stars and subsequently brought him to Deportivo La Coruña in 2006, where he played 21 matches before attracting Liverpool’s interest. Later in his career, at West Ham United, he worked with Slaven Bilic, who managed him in just four matches before Arbeloa’s retirement in 2017.

Three years later, Arbeloa returned to Madrid to coach the U14 Infantil A team in 2020. Now, after a steady ascent through the ranks, he assumes the role of first-team coach.