Álvaro Arbeloa Takes Helm as Real Madrid’s New Head Coach
Former defender steps up from Castilla to lead the first team, succeeding Xabi Alonso.
Real Madrid wasted no time in naming its new head coach. Just minutes after announcing its separation from Xabi Alonso, the club confirmed former central defender Álvaro Arbeloa, previously coach of the B team, as his successor.
The club’s official statement declared: ‘Real Madrid announces that Álvaro Arbeloa will be the new coach of the first team.’
Álvaro Arbeloa was coach of Castilla from June 2025, having spent his entire coaching career within Real Madrid’s academy system since 2020. He led the Under-14 A team to a league title in the 2020-2021 season, coached the Under-16 side in 2021-2022, and managed the Under-19 team from 2022 to 2025. During his tenure with the Under-19s, he secured a treble in the 2022-2023 season, winning the League, Copa del Rey, and Champions Cup, in addition to another league title in the 2024-2025 season.
As a player, Arbeloa was an integral part of Real Madrid during one of the most successful periods in the club’s history. He represented the team from 2009 to 2016, making 238 official appearances. During this time, he lifted eight trophies: two European Cups, one FIFA Club World Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, one LaLiga title, two Copa del Rey trophies, and one Spanish Super Cup.
Arbeloa also played a significant role in a historic era for the Spanish national team. He was part of the squad that won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and two European Championships in 2008 and 2012. He earned a total of 56 caps for his country.
