Real Madrid have announced Alvaro Arbeloa as their new head coach following the departure of Xabi Alonso.
Los Blancos parted ways with Alonso after their 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana final.
Alonso took charge ahead of the 2025 Club World Cup, replacing Carlo Ancelotti, and oversaw 34 matches in seven months, although he came under increasing pressure over the results and reports of disagreements with players.
And following Alonso’s dismissal, Madrid have turned to another former player at Arbeloa, who headed the youth academy.
Official announcement: Álvaro Arbeloa.
— Real Madrid CF (@realmadriden) January 12, 2026
The 42-year-old joined Castilla in 2020 as Under-14 head coach and rose through the ranks before replacing Raul at the helm of Castilla in May last year.
As a player, Arbeloa came through Madrid’s academy before making his first-team debut in October 2004, and although he left in 2005, he returned for a seven-year spell between 2009 and 2016.
He made a total of 237 appearances in all competitions for the club, also winning the LaLiga title, two Copa del Rey titles, two Champions Leagues, the Club World Cup and the Super Cup.
Arbeloa, who played alongside Alonso at both Liverpool and Madrid, takes the lead with Madrid second in LaLiga, four points behind Barcelona, with his first game on Wednesday against Albacete in the Copa del Rey.
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