Thursday Fulham Stuff - 09/07/26...

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Álvaro Arbeloa appointed Fulham Head Coach

The Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Álvaro Arbeloa as the new Head Coach of Fulham.

The 43-year-old has agreed a three-year deal, tying him to Craven Cottage until the summer of 2029.

Following a trophy-laden playing career, Arbeloa's coaching journey has been forged at arguably the biggest side in the world, starting with Real Madrid's youth sides before taking charge of the senior team last season.

Álvaro Arbeloa: "It is a real honour for me to be embarking on this new stage at Fulham FC, the oldest club in London. I feel a great sense of responsibility and I'm deeply grateful to Mr. Khan and Tony Khan for the trust they have placed in me with Fulham in the Premier League.

"I am really looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere at Craven Cottage with Fulham fans and beginning pre-season with the players next week. I am sure we are going to enjoy an incredible journey together.

"Come on Fulham!"

Shahid Khan: "Álvaro was an original candidate who built an exceptional case through our meetings in June to become our next Head Coach, and it quickly became quite clear that he was – and is – the right choice. I am delighted that Alvaro has accepted the challenge to push Fulham forward, and I have no doubt that our squad, staff and fans will resonate with what his appointment means for the present and future of our Club.

"Álvaro is, by his own admission, very ambitious.  He has spent quality time around the best players, clubs and methods in the game, experiences which will serve him well here at Fulham. Álvaro also has great interest in our Academy set-up and believes in giving young players a chance. I loved hearing that from Álvaro, as well as his intent on playing attacking football. All of this and a lot more makes Álvaro Arbeloa an ideal fit to lead Fulham Football Club into the upcoming Premier League season and beyond."

Tony Khan: "I'm thrilled to welcome Álvaro Arbeloa as Fulham's Head Coach! Álvaro is highly intelligent with a profound knowledge of the sport, a very strong work ethic, and he is determined to succeed at Fulham. I'm excited and looking forward to a bright future for the Club under Álvaro's tremendous leadership! Come on Fulham!"

The coach

Arbeloa's first taste of coaching came back at the Club where he spent so much of his playing career, when Florentino Perez brought him in to lead Real Madrid's Under-14 side.

After winning the league title in his first season, Arbeloa was promoted to coach the Under-16s, though he quickly moved up to look after the 19s, where he won the treble – La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions Cup – in his maiden campaign.

Having won the league again in 2024/25, Arbeloa was named as the coach of Castilla, Real Madrid's famed B side, replacing club legend Raúl who had held the position for the previous six years.

Building a team that valued an aggressive press, defensive nous, and attractive football, Arbeloa spoke of how he looks to incorporate qualities of all the coaches he worked under. There are some big names in that list, too – the likes of Rafael Benitez, Zinedine Zidane, Manuel Pellegrini, Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti.

Arbeloa was only at Castilla for half a season before he was called upon to take charge of the Real Madrid first team, following the departure of Xabi Alonso – a man he will meet again on the touchline in Fulham's season opener against Chelsea at Craven Cottage.

During his time at the helm, he led them to a second-place finish in La Liga, though the highlight of his spell in charge at the Bernabéu will surely be the 5-1 aggregate victory over Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in the Champions League.

The player

After time spent in the youth system at Real Zaragoza, Arbeloa joined Real Madrid at the age of 18, making his senior debut three years later in a 1-1 draw away to Real Betis in La Liga. He came off the bench to line up alongside Iker Casillas, Roberto Carlos, Zinedine Zidane, Raúl, Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Michael Owen.

His first start for Los Blancos came later in the season, when he shared a right-flank with David Beckham in a 3-0 victory over local rivals Atletico Madrid.

A permanent transfer to Deportivo de La Coruña followed, but he was only there for half a season before his performances attracted the attentions of Liverpool – a campaign that ended with him picking up a Champions League runners-up medal after replacing former Fulham defender Steve Finnan in their 2-1 loss to AC Milan in Athens.

After 98 appearances for the club, Arbeloa re-signed for Real Madrid, and the full-back went on to win no fewer than eight trophies during his time back in the Spanish capital.

Two Champions League and two Copa del Rey triumphs apiece, in addition to winning La Liga, the Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Spanish Super Cup, mark one of the most successful periods in Real's history, with Arbeloa more than playing his part with 238 appearances.

On the international front, Arbeloa enjoyed success that most players could only dream of, with his 56 caps for Spain including two European Championship wins, one either side of his nation winning the World Cup for the first time in 2010.

A brief spell back in the Premier League followed with West Ham United, taking him to 100+ matches for English sides, before he announced his retirement from playing at the age of 34.

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/july/07/alvaro-arbeloa-appointed-fulham-head-coach/

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Álvaro Arbeloa appointed Fulham boss after Real Madrid exit
Álvaro Arbeloa was confirmed as Fulham's new head coach on Tuesday, having left Real Madrid at the end of last season.

He has signed a three-year contract at Craven Cottage.

Arbeloa replaces Marco Silva, who has moved to his homeland to take charge of Portugal's Benfica.

Silva, in turn, replaced José Mourinho at Benfica. Mourinho has returned to Madrid where he previously managed 13 years ago, filling a vacancy created by Arbeloa's exit.

"Álvaro was an original candidate who built an exceptional case through our meetings in June to become our next Head Coach, and it quickly became quite clear that he was -- and is -- the right choice," Fulham owner Shahid Khan said in a statement.

"I am delighted that Alvaro has accepted the challenge to push Fulham forward, and I have no doubt that our squad, staff and fans will resonate with what his appointment means for the present and future of our Club."

Arbeloa was placed in charge at Madrid in January after Xabi Alonso was sacked. But Madrid slumped to a second consecutive trophyless campaign.

The former Spain international -- who played for Liverpool in the Premier League -- will now return to England in the Fulham dugout.

"It is a real honour for me to be embarking on this new stage at Fulham FC, the oldest club in London," Arbeloa said.

"I feel a great sense of responsibility and I'm deeply grateful to Mr. Khan and [vice Chairman and director of football] Tony Khan for the trust they have placed in me with Fulham in the Premier League."

Fulham finished 11th in the Premier League last season.



https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/49151991/alvaro-arbeloa-appointed-fulham-boss-real-madrid-exit

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Álvaro Arbeloa named new Fulham manager on three-year deal
Álvaro Arbeloa will be the new coach of Fulham, the English club announced on its website.

Arbeloa previously left Real Madrid after four months as interim coach at the club, after Xabi Alonso was sacked.

Arbeloa has signed a three-year contract with London club Fulham, which plays in the Premier League.

"I'm sure we will experience a fantastic journey together," the 43-year-old said, according to the club website.



https://swedenherald.com/article/lvaro-arbeloa-named-new-fulham-manager-on-threeyear-deal

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Fulham news: Alvaro Arbeloa set for Xabi Alonso face-off as Cottagers reveal reasons behind head coach appointment
Fulham have named former Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa as Marco Silva's permanent successor.

The Cottagers have been without a manager since Silva left at the end of his contract to take over the reins at Portuguese giants Benfica.

Arbeloa quickly emerged as the frontrunner in Fulham's first search for a new head coach since 2021.

The Cottagers have now confirmed the appointment of the former Liverpool defender on a three-year contract.

Arbeloa has ultimately decided to make a quick return to management after leaving Real Madrid at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.

Fulham name Arbeloa as new head coach
The 43-year-old worked as a coach in Real Madrid's youth system, including a stint in charge of the Castilla (B) team before being given the top job following Xabi Alonso's sacking in January.

Arbeloa struggled in his time in charge despite overseeing an impressive Champions League last-16 win over Manchester City.

Under Arbeloa's watch, Real Madrid suffered a surprise Copa del Rey exit at the hands of second-tier side Albacete, lost to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final and fell short of Barcelona in a title race that ended with a 2-0 defeat in the final Clasico of the season.

Arbeloa also struggled with disharmony in a broken dressing room, something he hopes to avoid at Fulham, where he should be given greater control to implement his ideas away from the pressure of managing a club as big as Real Madrid.

"It is a real honour for me to be embarking on this new stage at Fulham FC, the oldest club in London," Arbeloa told Fulham's official website.

"I feel a great sense of responsibility, and I'm deeply grateful to Mr. [Shahid] Khan and Tony Khan for the trust they have placed in me with Fulham in the Premier League.

"I am really looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere at Craven Cottage with Fulham fans and beginning pre-season with the players next week. I am sure we are going to enjoy an incredible journey together."

Fulham owner explains decision to appoint Arbeloa
While there may be concerns over Arbeloa's lack of senior managerial experience, Fulham owner Shahid Khan has revealed that the new head coach presented an "exceptional case' to take on the tough challenge of following in Silva's footsteps.

"Alvaro was an original candidate who built an exceptional case through our meetings in June to become our next head coach, and it quickly became quite clear that he was – and is – the right choice.

"I am delighted that Alvaro has accepted the challenge to push Fulham forward, and I have no doubt that our squad, staff and fans will resonate with what his appointment means for the present and future of our club.

"Alvaro is, by his own admission, very ambitious. He has spent quality time around the best players, clubs and methods in the game, experiences which will serve him well here at Fulham.

"Alvaro also has great interest in our academy set-up and believes in giving young players a chance. I loved hearing that from Alvaro, as well as his intent on playing attacking football.

"All of this and a lot more makes Alvaro Arbeloa an ideal fit to lead Fulham Football Club into the upcoming Premier League season and beyond."

Arbeloa to start with Alonso showdown
There will be something of a Real Madrid reunion when Arbeloa officially begins his tenure with a clash against Chelsea on the first weekend of the Premier League season.

The West London derby on August 24 will see Arbeloa face off with his former Real Madrid teammate and predecessor at Los Blancos, Xabi Alonso.

The ex-Real Madrid boss was appointed Chelsea boss in May, representing his first job since leaving the Santiago Bernabeu earlier this year.

After facing Chelsea at Craven Cottage, Fulham will head on their travels for an away meeting with Sunderland on August 30.

Arbeloa will surely have one eye on the game against Liverpool at Anfield on September 12, when he will look to get the better of a club he represented on 98 occasions during his playing days.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/news/arbeloa-set-for-alonso-face-off-as-ex-real-madrid-boss-secures-fulham-job_600857.html

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Alvaro Arbeloa appointed Fulham manager after Real Madrid exit
Arbeloa succeeds Marco Silva in the Fulham dugout after he moved to Benfica at the end of his contract

Alvaro Arbeloa has been appointed Fulham manager after his departure from Real Madrid at the end of last season.

Arbeloa, 43, succeeds Marco Silva in the Craven Cottage dugout after the Portuguese coach left at the end of his contract, opting to join Benfica rather than pen a new deal.

It acts as a return to the Premier League for the former Spain international, who two years at Liverpool during his playing days before finishing his career at West Ham.

"It is a real honour for me to be embarking on this new stage at Fulham FC, the oldest club in London," Arbeloa said.

"I feel a great sense of responsibility and I'm deeply grateful to Mr (Shahid) Khan and Tony Khan for the trust they have placed in me with Fulham in the Premier League.

"I am really looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere at Craven Cottage with Fulham fans and beginning pre-season with the players next week. I am sure we are going to enjoy an incredible journey together."

Fulham co-owner Shahid Khan added: "Alvaro was an original candidate who built an exceptional case through our meetings in June to become our next Head Coach, and it quickly became quite clear that he was – and is – the right choice.

"I am delighted that Alvaro has accepted the challenge to push Fulham forward, and I have no doubt that our squad, staff and fans will resonate with what his appointment means for the present and future of our club.

"Alvaro is, by his own admission, very ambitious. He has spent quality time around the best players, clubs and methods in the game, experiences which will serve him well here at Fulham."

The former Spain international arrives after a turbulent spell at the Santiago Bernabeu which saw Real Madrid end the season trophyless for a second successive year.

Arbeloa oversaw Real as they were beaten by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals before being eclipsed by bitter rivals Barcelona in the race for the LaLiga title.

He was then at the helm for a string of controversies at Real, with the club fining international midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni 500,000 euro (£432,000) each following a training-ground altercation.

Striker Kylian Mbappe was also reported to have been involved in an angry exchange with a member of the club's coaching staff who was acting as an assistant referee in a training match, while defender Antonio Rudiger reportedly apologised to the squad for another training-ground clash.

He had been appointed to steer the ship after Xabi Alonso's sacking in January, promoted from his role as head coach of Real Madrid Castilla, but now finds himself just down the road from Alonso who has taken over at Fulham's near neighbours Chelsea.

The pair will meet in the first game of the Premier League season at Craven Cottage on 24 August.



https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/alvaro-arbeloa-fulham-new-manager-real-madrid-marco-silva-b3010920.html

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Fulham appoint Arbeloa as head coach on a three-year deal despite relegation tip
Fulham have appointed Alvaro Arbeloa as head coach on a deal until 2029, the Premier League club announced on Tuesday, in the Spaniard's first managerial role outside his home country.

The former Real Madrid player and manager replaces Portuguese coach Marco Silva, who left the west London outfit after five years in charge to join Benfica.

"It is a real honour for me to be embarking on this new stage at Fulham," Arbeloa said in a club statement.

"I am really looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere at Craven Cottage with Fulham fans and beginning pre-season with the players next week."

Speaking last month, after hearing that Arbeloa could get the Fulham job, former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor insists the Cottagers could now find themselves in a relegation battle next season.

Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT: "This is a tough job for Arbeloa if he gets it because Real Madrid, yes, he coached in the B team in Real Madrid, the younger side. Win percentage of 64 per cent at Real Madrid.

"He was brought in wasn't he, to try and win the league, to try and win the Champions League, to take over from (Xabi) Alonso and he didn't do any better than Alonso.

"There were four lads with (Kylian) Mbappe and other players as well as limited experience as a manager. It's a strange option that Fulham are going for.

"Marco Silva did a fantastic job there and still he couldn't get Fulham into the top eight to go and play European football.

"I'm going to give Arbeloa a one out of five and I wouldn't be surprised if Fulham have a relegation battle next season.

"It's a big statement, but I think Harry Wilson leaving, Jimenez, I know he's not a prolific goalscorer, has left to go to Wolves as well.

"New manager, how much extra did Marco Silva get out of those players? We saw his aggression on the sideline. Arbeloa is not like that, he's a more chilled out character.

"So it is a big risk. Out of all the appointments, I'm saying Arbeloa is the biggest risk that Fulham are taking."



https://www.football365.com/news/fulham-appoint-arbeloa-agbonlahor-relegation-tip

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Fulham confirm Alvaro Arbeloa appointed to replace Marco Silva as head coach ahead of new Premier League season
Premier League side Fulham have moved to replace Marco Silva as head coach after the Portuguese departed to replace Jose Mourinho at Benfica. They have appointed former Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa - the man Mourinho replaced at the Bernabeu.

Silva left at the end of the season after five successful years at Craven Cottage and has returned to Portugal to take over at Benfica from Mourinho.

Fulham finished in 11th spot in Silva's final season in charge of the club and he won the EFL Championship with them in 2022.

Benfica saw Mourinho depart to take over at Real Madrid after Arbeloa's stay in charge at the Bernabeu was not extended.

Arbeloa stepped in when Xabi Alonso - who has since joined Chelsea - left the club, but he failed to catch Barcelona in the race for La Liga.

Silva had been expected to leave for several months and Arbeloa had been linked to Fulham, with several Real Madrid youngsters also tipped to join him in West London.

The Premier League club confirmed the appointment in a statement on their official website, writing: "The club is delighted to announce the appointment of Alvaro Arbeloa as the new head coach of Fulham.

"The 43-year-old has agreed a three-year deal, tying him to Craven Cottage until the summer of 2029."

Arbeloa added: "It is a real honour for me to be embarking on this new stage at Fulham FC, the oldest club in London.

"I feel a great sense of responsibility and I'm deeply grateful to Mr Khan and Tony Khan for the trust they have placed in me with Fulham in the Premier League.

"I am really looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere at Craven Cottage with Fulham fans and beginning pre-season with the players next week.

"I am sure we are going to enjoy an incredible journey together.

Fulham chair Shahid Khan said: "Alvaro is, by his own admission, very ambitious. He has spent quality time around the best players, clubs and methods in the game, experiences which will serve him well here at Fulham.

"Alvaro also has great interest in our academy set-up and believes in giving young players a chance. I loved hearing that from Alvaro, as well as his intent on playing attacking football."

Arbeloa had two spells in the Premier League as a player, usually operating as a right-sided defender.

He joined Liverpool in 2008 and played 98 times for the club before moving to Real Madrid at the start of the 2009 season.

He featured 233 times for the club, winning La Liga once and the Champions League twice.

He then had a short spell at West Ham in the 2016/17 season, playing three times before retiring.



https://www.tntsports.co.uk/football/premier-league/2026-2027/fulham-alvaro-arbeloa-marco-silva-head-coach_sto23317481/story.shtml

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Ex-Liverpool right-back Alvaro Arbeloa appointed as Fulham manager
Alvaro Arbeloa has been appointed as Fulham's new head coach on a three-year contract.

The 43-year-old former Spain full-back, who finished last season in charge of his long-time club Real Madrid, succeeds Marco Silva after the Portuguese coach departed for Benfica at the end of his contract.

He said: "It is a real honour for me to be embarking on this new stage at Fulham FC, the oldest club in London.

"I feel a great sense of responsibility and I'm deeply grateful to Mr (Shahid) Khan and Tony Khan for the trust they have placed in me with Fulham in the Premier League.

"I am really looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere at Craven Cottage with Fulham fans."

Fulham co-owner Shahid Khan said: "Alvaro was an original candidate who built an exceptional case through our meetings in June to become our next Head Coach, and it quickly became quite clear that he was – and is – the right choice.

"I am delighted that Alvaro has accepted the challenge to push Fulham forward, and I have no doubt that our squad, staff and fans will resonate with what his appointment means for the present and future of our club."

He continued: "Alvaro is, by his own admission, very ambitious.

"He has spent quality time around the best players, clubs and methods in the game, experiences which will serve him well here at Fulham."

Arbeloa endured a turbulent and eventful stint at Real Madrid after being appointed in January, following the departure of Xabi Alonso, the new boss of Fulham's near neighbours Chelsea.

Real were beaten by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals before being eclipsed by bitter rivals Barcelona in the race for the LaLiga title.

In May, the club fined international midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni 500,000 euro (£432,000) each following a training-ground altercation.

The disciplinary proceedings were the latest in a string of controversies at Real, with defender Antonio Rudiger reportedly apologising to the squad for another training-ground clash.

Striker Kylian Mbappe was reported to have been involved in an angry exchange with a member of the club's coaching staff who was acting as an assistant referee in a training match.



https://www.thisisanfield.com/2026/07/ex-liverpool-right-back-alvaro-arbeloa-appointed-as-fulham-manager/

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Sources: Fulham and Brentford enter Daizen Maeda race as transfer edges closer
Everton and Nottingham Forest are both locked in an "open race" to sign Celtic striker Daizen Maeda this summer, sources have told Football Insider.

The pair of Premier League sides are also battling interest from the likes of Fulham and Brentford for the Japan international.

The 28-year-old has made it clear that he is keen to leave Celtic Park this summer, in order to test himself and play at the highest possible level.

Maeda is into the final year of his contract with the Bhoys, and sources say there is a feeling at Parkhead that it is "best for all parties" if the frontman moves on, and the club get themselves a sizeable fee.

The idea of a move to the Premier League is understood to be hugely appealing to Maeda, who has enjoyed several electric seasons in the Scottish Premiership.

He notched 17 goals and 10 assists in all competitions last term, having hit a stunning 33 goals back in 2024-25.

Daizen Maeda movement expected in the coming weeks
Maeda's future at Celtic is set to be settled for good this summer, with the Glasgow giants ready to take the final chance to cash in on their star man ahead of his contract expiring.

The striker has been away at the World Cup with Japan in recent weeks, and that has provided a delay in terms of a concrete move being lined up for him.

He scored for his country in their 1-1 draw with Sweden in the group stage, but was ultimately powerless to prevent them from exiting the competition at the hands of Brazil in the Round of 32.

With the World Cup now out of the way for Maeda, it is expected that he will find a new club in the coming weeks.

Celtic are happy to grant him the move that he desires, provided that they can secure a fee that represents good value for money on their part.

Martin O'Neill pushing Celtic to submit Alfie Devine offer
Football Insider revealed on Tuesday that Martin O'Neill is pushing Celtic to firm up their interest in Tottenham midfielder Alfie Devine with a formal offer.

The 74-year-old boss is waiting for the green light from the club hierarchy to take the pursuit of the 21-year-old to the next level.

O'Neill and his staff watched Devine on several occasions during his loan spell at Preston last season, where he notched eight goals and six assists.

Tottenham are open to selling the youngster this summer, but Celtic face heavy competition for his signature from the likes of Southampton.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/celtic/transfers/sources-fulham-and-brentford-enter-daizen-maeda-race-as-transfer-edges-closer

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Five problems Arbeloa must fix as Fulham manager
He's here - and he needs to get busy.

After another season of Premier League consolidation rather than progression, Fulham find themselves at a crossroads.

Marco Silva built a stable and competitive top-flight side, but the next challenge is turning that stability into genuine advancement.

That responsibility now falls to Alvaro Arbeloa.

The announcement late last night, finally confirming that the ex-Real Madrid man will be in the Fulham dugout next season hasn't come a moment too soon - and he already has a stacked inbox.

While Fulham's final league position suggests a relatively comfortable campaign, a closer examination of the underlying numbers reveals several tactical shortcomings that prevented the club from mounting a sustained challenge for the European places. This is not an assessment of individual players, but of the systems and structures that shaped Fulham's season.

The encouraging reality is that none of these issues appear insurmountable. If Fulham are to take the next step towards Europe 2026/27, however, there are five key tactical problems that must be addressed.

1. Creating more high-quality chances
The clearest issue from Fulham's season was their inability to consistently generate dangerous scoring opportunities.

While the Whites' goal tally broadly aligned with their expected goals output, the underlying concern was the sheer lack of high-value chances being created. Fulham produced fewer big chances than any other side in the division, highlighting an attack that too often relied on moments of individual quality rather than repeatable attacking patterns.



Fulham frequently progressed the ball into advanced areas but struggled to turn promising possession into clear-cut opportunities. Too many attacks ended with speculative efforts or hopeful deliveries rather than genuine chances.

If Fulham are serious about challenging for Europe, increasing the volume of high-quality opportunities must be the primary objective. A new striker may help, but chance creation is ultimately a collective tactical issue rather than an individual one.

2. Becoming less predictable in possession
One reason behind Fulham's lack of chance creation was the predictability of their attacking structure. Drilled to diligent design, but lacking fluidity and unpredictability.

The Whites were actually one of the Premier League's more effective crossing teams, completing over 25% of their crosses and ranking seventh in the division for crossing accuracy. The problem was not getting the ball into dangerous areas. The problem was that opponents often knew where Fulham's attacks were coming from.



Despite delivering quality crosses and recording a healthy number of touches in the opposition penalty area, Fulham still created the fewest big chances in the league.

The data suggests a side heavily reliant on wide attacks, with too few opportunities created through central combinations, through balls or late midfield runs. The Premier League's strongest attacking teams can hurt opponents in multiple ways. Fulham often lacked that variation.

Adding greater central creativity and more unpredictable movement between the lines should be a major focus under Arbeloa.

3. Developing a more effective away identity
Fulham's home form remained competitive throughout the season, but their performances away from Craven Cottage often lacked the same consistency.

Too many away matches followed a similar pattern. Fulham struggled to establish territorial control, found it harder to sustain pressure and frequently looked less comfortable when games became open and transitional.

This points to a tactical challenge rather than a purely psychological one. The team often appeared caught between two approaches: pressing aggressively or retreating into a compact block. The result was that neither strategy consistently functioned at its best.

Developing a clearer away-game identity could significantly improve Fulham's points return on the road. Whether through a more structured counter-attacking framework or a midfield better equipped to manage transitions, greater clarity is needed when Fulham leave home.

4. Improving defensive transitions
Fulham's overall defensive record was respectable, but there were recurring problems when possession was lost.

When attacks broke down, opponents were often able to exploit the spaces left behind, particularly through central areas. With full-backs pushing forward and midfielders committed to attacks, Fulham occasionally lacked the structure needed to slow counter-attacks before they became dangerous.

This is an increasingly important area of the modern game. The best Premier League sides are not only effective with the ball, they are also exceptional at reacting immediately after losing it.

Improving defensive transitions would likely have a disproportionate impact on results. Turning a handful of counter-attacking opportunities into harmless possessions can be the difference between a draw and a win, or a defeat and a point.

5. Extracting more value from set pieces
Set pieces have become one of the most important battlegrounds in modern football, yet Fulham failed to maximise their potential in this area.

With several strong aerial players and a steady stream of corners and free-kicks throughout the season, there was a clear opportunity to generate additional goals from dead-ball situations. Compared with some of the league's most efficient set-piece teams, Fulham's returns remained relatively modest.

This is also one of the most correctable issues on the list.

Improved routines, better movement, more effective screening and stronger second-ball organisation could all deliver marginal gains. Across a 38-game season, those marginal gains can be worth several points in the table.

For a club looking to bridge the gap to the European places, few areas offer a more immediate opportunity for improvement.

Conclusion
Fulham's 2025/26 campaign was not a failure, but it did expose the difference between being a comfortable Premier League side and becoming a genuine contender for European qualification.

The most pressing issue remains chance creation. Fulham simply did not produce enough high-quality opportunities, and their attacking play often became predictable when opponents neutralised wide areas. Alongside improvements in away performances, defensive transitions and set-piece efficiency, addressing those weaknesses could significantly narrow the gap to the top eight.

Importantly, none of these problems require a complete rebuild. Silva's tenure left Fulham with a strong foundation and a competitive squad. The challenge for Arbeloa is not to start again, but to refine what already exists.

If he can solve these five tactical problems, Fulham may finally be ready to move from consolidation to genuine progression.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/five-problems-arbeloa-must-fix-as

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Alvaro Arbeloa will try to sign three Real Madrid players for Fulham
For the time being, Real Madrid have switched their attention to exits, having been left satisfied with the four signings already made. They have managed to generate in excess of €100m from players that were not even at the club last season, although there is still an intention to raise funds by letting current first team players leave.

Numerous candidates for sale have been identified in recent weeks, such as Fran Garcia and Gonzalo Garcia. The former will almost certainly depart after dropping down to fourth in the left-back pecking order behind Marc Cucurella, Alvaro Carreras and Ferland Mendy, while the latter may leave if Real Madrid decide to press ahead with plans to sign a "Joselu-esque" striker to compliment Kylian Mbappe and Endrick.

And now, both players could be given the chance to reunite with their manager from the second half of last season, Alvaro Arbeloa. As per Nizaar Kinsella, Fulham want to sign both players permanently, while they also have ambitions to bring in Real Madrid teammate Franco Mastantuono on a season-long loan.

Arbeloa has asked trio to be signed
Knowing that all three have chances to leave his former club this summer, Arbeloa – who was finally appointed as Fulham's manager on Tuesday – has communicated to the Premier League club's sporting director that he wants Mastantuono, Gonzalo and Garcia to be brought to Craven Cottage. Real Madrid would likely see a move for all three with good eyes, given that they would be working with someone that can manage them well.

It will be interesting to see whether Fulham approach Real Madrid in the coming days regarding deals for Mastantuono, Gonzalo and Garcia. All three would be very good signings for the Londoners, and the prospect of working again under Arbeloa could be enticing for all of them.



https://siempremadrid.com/alvaro-arbeloa-will-try-to-sign-three-real-madrid-players-for-fulham/

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Fulham target SIX Real Madrid stars after Arbeloa appointment as Mourinho, Perez approve move
Fulham have finalised the appointment of Alvaro Arbeloa in what the club believe is one of the biggest managerial coups in their recent history, and TEAMtalk can reveal they could use their new boss to lure five exciting players from Real Madrid this summer.

The former Real Madrid defender has agreed a three-year contract at Craven Cottage after convincing the Fulham hierarchy he is the right man to take the club to the next level after succeeding Marco Silva.

His appointment has now been officially announced. "It is a real honour for me to be embarking on this new stage at Fulham FC, the oldest club in London," he told the club's website.

"I feel a great sense of responsibility and I'm deeply grateful to Mr. Khan and Tony Khan for the trust they have placed in me with Fulham in the Premier League.

"I am really looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere at Craven Cottage with Fulham fans and beginning pre-season with the players next week. I am sure we are going to enjoy an incredible journey together. Come on Fulham!"

We can reveal Arbeloa's appointment was strongly backed by two of the biggest figures in world football.

Sources have confirmed both Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and new Real boss Jose Mourinho personally spoke with Fulham's hierarchy during the recruitment process to endorse Arbeloa and push his case for the role.

Those glowing references helped convince Fulham they had identified one of Europe's brightest young coaches.

Fulham plan to use Arbeloa to sign Real Madrid stars
Arbeloa arrives in West London after an impressive spell with Real Madrid Castilla before being made interim manager of the senior side following Xabi Alonso's sacking in January.

Despite Mourinho being chosen to succeed him on a permanent basis at the Bernabeu, TEAMtalk understands Real Madrid's hierarchy retain enormous faith in Arbeloa's managerial ability.

Sources insist both Perez and senior figures at the club believe he is more than capable of one day returning to Real Madrid as first-team head coach, with his move to Fulham viewed as an important step in his long-term development rather than the end of his association with the Spanish giants.

Now Fulham are prepared to back their new manager in the transfer market, with the club ready to invest heavily as they look to build on recent progress.

TEAMtalk understands Fulham also intend to make full use of their newly strengthened relationship with Real Madrid, with several young players already under discussion.

One name sits firmly at the top of Arbeloa's wishlist. The Spaniard is keen for Fulham to pursue highly-rated 21-year-old midfielder Cesar Palacios, whom he knows well from his time working within Real Madrid's academy structure.

Palacios is viewed internally as a player capable of making an immediate impact in the Premier League while also possessing significant long-term potential.

TEAMtalk can also reveal Manuel Angel, Jorge Cestero and Thiago Pitarch have all been discussed as possible additions, with Arbeloa well placed to identify which emerging talents are ready to make the step into senior football.

Real's 18-year-old sensation Franco Mastantuono is another star Fulham have their eye on.

A move depends on whether Mourinho allows him to be loaned out or intends to use him in the first team – a decision he is yet to make.

Gonzalo Garcia emerges as serious option for Fulham
Another player firmly under consideration is Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Garcia.

Fulham had already been tracking the 22-year-old before Arbeloa's appointment, but the new head coach is understood to be a huge admirer of the young forward and would welcome the opportunity to bring him to Craven Cottage.

Any move, however, may depend on Mourinho's plans.

Garcia is highly regarded within Real Madrid and could yet be retained as part of the first-team squad this season, meaning a final decision on his future has not yet been taken.

For now, Fulham's focus is on giving Arbeloa the strongest possible platform to succeed.

With the backing of Perez and Mourinho, fresh investment promised by the club and a direct line into Real Madrid's production line of young talent, there is growing optimism that Fulham's new era under Arbeloa could prove to be one of the most ambitious in the club's modern history.



https://www.teamtalk.com/fulham/alvaro-arbeloa-targets-five-real-madrid-stars-fulham-appointment

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Alvaro Arbeloa: the big gamble
Will betting the house on the Spanish World Cup winner pay off for the Khans?

Nearly a month after the first rumours surfaced, Fulham decided that 11:45 pm on a school night was a good time to announce Àlvaro Arbeloa as our new manager.

Peculiar timing, but it probably indicates just how much of the major decision-making is actually conducted over in the USA, with Khan's advisors probably closely scrutinising every word of that final press release before giving the go-ahead to the UK to publish.

Obviously, it is just a relief to have somebody through the door. This saga (and it was a saga) had dragged on far too long and there is no doubt that appointing a manager with so much of the summer already wasted will mean that the club has some serious catching up to do.

From the moment that this appointment was first rumoured, I have expressed concern at this decision. The reason is pretty obvious. Is a six-month glorified caretaker spell at Real Madrid enough senior experience to lead a team in the inferno of the Premier League?

Jack Collins made the point that if you appointed an equivalent manager from England there would likely be uproar. Swap the name Real Madrid for, let's say, Manchester United and change the name Alvaro Arbeloa to let's say Matt Upson, would we be as quick to accept this? Probably not.

To clarify, I don't care about 'Premier League' experience, but it's a long time since any of our competitors made an appointment like this where there is almost no body of work to judge previously. Keith Andrews was at least very familiar with the Brentford set-up and your Hurzelers and your Iraloas had several years of experience abroad under the belts. Arteta had worked for several years as Guardiola's assistant.

Of course, every manager has to be given their first chance by somebody. If Arbeloa was appointed by a La Liga, a Ligue 1 or a Bundesliga club, nobody would bat an eyelid. It's just that gambles like this don't get taken very often in the English top flight.

There has been a lot of time since that first rumour to do some digging and get some other perspectives on Arbaloa. Highly respected Spanish journalist Guillem Balague wrote a fantastic long-tweet explaining Arbeloa's philosophy.

I'd highly recommend giving it a full-read, but Guillem explains how Arbeloa wants to give youth a pathway and also he wants his teams to have a clear identity of "possession, high pressing and intensity".

Also, Real Madrid fans speak highly of Arbeloa and don't seem to necessarily pin blame on him for what happened in the latter part of last season. I always find hearing from fans of previous clubs to be a useful barometer and this Reddit thread on the Real Madrid sub-reddit was a particularly interesting read, I've screenshotted a couple of my favourite responses below.





Experience is obviously the box that Arbeloa doesn't tick, but promoting youth and playing entertaining football is definitely two big boxes that are important. For all the talk of Oliver Glasner and Thomas Frank, their identities are a complete overhaul from the style we played under Marco Silva.

Already, links are being made with Real Madrid players that Arbeloa wants to bring to the football club. According to Nizaar Kinsella, he wants to bring in 18-year-old winger Franco Mastantuono on loan, as well as full-back Fran Garcia and forward Gonzalo Garcia on permanent deals.

Clearly, having Arbeloa is going to mean a direct line to the Bernabéu. 'We're Not Real Madrid' is how the song goes, but maybe it's not so true anymore.

All in all, this is a big gamble - there's no other way to dress this up. Shahid Khan and Tony Khan clearly must have been impressed by Arbeloa's vision during the interview process, but it is surprising to see them bet the house in such a big way, which hasn't tended to be their modus operandi in recent years.

At least if we can record a win against Chelsea on matchday one, it will be a gamble with an instant pay-out.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/alvaro-arbeloa-the-big-gamble

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Official: Fulham appoint ex-Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa as new manager following Jose Mourinho endorsement
Fulham have officially entered a new era after confirming the appointment of former Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa as their new head coach. The Spaniard arrives at Craven Cottage to succeed Marco Silva, who recently vacuumed the seat in west London to take over at Portuguese giants Benfica.

A new chapter at Craven Cottage
Fulham have acted swiftly to secure their new leading man, confirming that Arbeloa has signed a three-year contract to become the club's head coach. The 43-year-old, who famously patrolled the touchline at the Bernabeu last season, represents a bold statement of intent from the Cottagers as they look to build on the foundations laid over the past five years.

Arbeloa was quick to express his excitement about the move, telling the club's official website: "It is a real honour for me to be embarking on this new stage at Fulham FC, the oldest club in London. I feel a great sense of responsibility and I'm deeply grateful to Mr [Sahid] Khan and Tony Khan for the trust they have placed in me with Fulham in the Premier League.

"I am really looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere at Craven Cottage with Fulham fans and beginning pre-season with the players next week. I am sure we are going to enjoy an incredible journey together. Come on Fulham!"

The search for Silva's successor
The vacancy at Craven Cottage arose following the departure of Silva, who opted for a return to his homeland with Benfica. Despite Fulham's efforts to retain the man who led them through a successful half-decade, the lure of the Portuguese giants proved too strong. The hunt for his replacement saw several high-profile names linked with the role, including former Tottenham boss Thomas Frank.

Fulham also reportedly considered a move for former Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna, though the cost of prising him away was eventually deemed too high. Arbeloa emerged as the frontrunner after impressing the board with his vision for the club. According to BBC, his candidacy was bolstered by glowing references from Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and Jose Mourinho, the man who ultimately succeeded him in the Spanish capital.

Khan hails ambitious appointment
Chairman Khan believes the club has secured a manager who understands the demands of elite-level football. Speaking on the appointment, Khan noted: "Alvaro is, by his own admission, very ambitious. He has spent quality time around the best players, clubs and methods in the game, experiences which will serve him well here at Fulham."

Beyond his tactical acumen, Arbeloa's commitment to the club's youth system was a deciding factor for the ownership. Khan added: "Alvaro also has great interest in our academy set-up and believes in giving young players a chance. I loved hearing that from Alvaro, as well as his intent on playing attacking football. All of this and a lot more makes Alvaro Arbeloa an ideal fit to lead Fulham Football Club into the upcoming Premier League season and beyond."

Real Madrid pedigree arrives in London
Arbeloa returns to the Premier League following a whirlwind stint in charge of Real Madrid. After working within the youth ranks, the former Liverpool and West Ham defender stepped up to manage the first team for the final 28 games of the previous campaign. During that period, he guided Los Blancos to a second-place finish in La Liga and reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, where they were eventually eliminated by Bayern Munich.



https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/official-fulham-appoint-ex-real-madrid-alvaro-arbeloa-new-manager/blt7c758d605ef000cf?utm_id=fa3iys5y8hyz9ezk&utm_source_platform=newsnow

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Sources: Fulham make Real Madrid star 'top target' for Alvaro Arbeloa's first signing
Fulham are lining up a move to sign Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Garcia this summer, sources have told Football Insider.

The Cottagers are already lining up additions for new boss Alvaro Arbeloa, after his appointment at Craven Cottage was confirmed on Tuesday.

The West Londoners are in the market for reinforcements this summer, and are now prepared to try to make Garcia the first signing of Arbeloa's reign.

Sources say that the 22-year-old frontman is now Fulham's "top target," and they are set to work towards a deal for him in the coming weeks.

Arbeloa has managed Garcia for both Real Madrid's first team and their B team in recent years, and he is keen to reunite with his at Fulham.

The starlet notched 12 goals and four assists in all competitions last season, including four goals in six games at the Club World Cup.

Gonzalo Garcia's prolific record attracts Premier League interest again
Garcia has been earmarked as a top young talent at Madrid for several years now, but their abundance of world-class stars has blocked the pathway for him somewhat.

He started just nine games for Los Blancos in La Liga last season, but was still able to manage an impressive return of six league goals.

The 2025-26 campaign was Garcia's breakthrough season at senior level, having previously dazzled in the Spanish third tier for the B team.

The youngster smashed 25 goals from just 36 games for Real Madrid Castilla back in 2024-25, just before Arbeloa arrived as B team boss.

Garcia's prolific goal record at youth level has had several Premier League clubs interested in his services in recent years.

Both Leeds and Sunderland were heavily linked with a move for him last summer, and now it is Fulham who have him in their sights.

Fulham enter transfer race for Celtic star
Football Insider revealed on Wednesday that Fulham and Brentford have both entered the race to sign Celtic forward Daizen Maeda.

The Japan international is also a clear target for both Everton and Nottingham Forest, and it is an "open race" for his signature at the moment.

Fulham have identified Maeda as another option to come in and strengthen their attacking options, after another strong season in Scotland.

Maeda notched 17 goals and 10 assists across all competitions, as Martin O'Neill's side secured a domestic league and cup double.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/fulham/transfers/sources-fulham-make-real-madrid-star-top-target-for-alvaro-arbeloas-first-signing

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How Fulham could line-up next season under Alvaro Arbeloa after Real Madrid raid
Ex-Real Madrid manager is said to be ready to raid his former club

Fulham have officially announced the arrival of Alvaro Arbeola as their new manager on a three-year deal.

The former interim Real Madrid boss replaces Marco Silva, who last month left Fulham to join Benfica upon the expiry of his contract.

Arbeloa steps into his first permanent senior managerial role, having risen through the ranks at Real Madrid's academy before taking over from the sacked Xabi Alonso in January until the end of last season.

After extensive conversations last month, Arbeloa became the frontrunner to take charge at Fulham and impressed owner Shahid Khan with his focus on attacking football and the club's academy.

Youth is set to play a key role for Arbeloa as he looks to stamp his mark on one of the oldest squads in the Premier League, and he has reportedly already identified three Real Madrid youngsters to join him in west London.

Winger Franco Mastantuono, full-back Fran Garcia and forward Gonzalo Garcia are all said to be on Arbeloa's radar this summer as the 43-year-old sets out an ambitious blueprint for how he wants his side to set up.

Under Silva, Fulham focused on bringing in underappreciated Premier League talent that he could then develop, giving them responsibility and confidence without the external pressures of playing for a traditional big club.

That model looks set to change under Arbeloa, who has limited Premier League experience, having made 69 appearances across spells with Liverpool and West Ham during his playing career.

Arbeloa must be careful not to rip up the solid foundations that Silva built, stabilising Fulham as a Premier League club after years yo-yoing between the top-flight and the Championship.

Ambitious, youth-led recruitment must be balanced with an appreciation of what Arbeloa already has at his disposal, and he must lean on the leaders within his squad to cover for his own inexperience in the dugout.

Fulham have been on the cusp of breaking new ground as a club for several years now. Since promotion to the Premier League in 2022, Fulham have reached at least a quarter-final in either the Carabao Cup or FA Cup, and it is important that they do not lose sight of that target.

Arbeloa and Silva share fairly similar tactical outlooks, and that should help Fulham transition efficiently to Arbeloa's methods.

During his managerial career, Arbeloa has opted for an attacking 4-3-3 that focuses on high-pressing, attacking full-backs, and an out-and-out defensive midfielder to screen the defence.

He is not wedded to this system, though, and used a 4-4-2 to good effect last season to make Real Madrid more compact after a damaging 4-2 defeat to Jose Mourinho's Benfica in the Champions League.

Silva's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation often devolved into a more fluid 4-3-3 when Fulham were on the attack, with the onus on Fulham's full-backs to push high and provide width.

That is something Arbeloa will be keen to utilise, and he will surely look to Antonee Robinson both as a leader and an attacking threat within his side.

Silva, too, was comfortable operating in a more compact 4-4-2, with a flat defensive set-up.

Fulham have a settled squad with key players at a prime age. Their recruitment recently has centred on adding more flair and unpredictability in attack, while bringing down the average age of their squad.

Raul Jimenez has departed for Wolves, while the loss of last season's player of the year, Harry Wilson, needs to be addressed. Arbeloa will be tasked with replacing 19 of Fulham's 47 league goals from last season.

Arbeloa must strike a balance between building on Silva's legacy and carving out an identity of his own.

With limited senior managerial experience, what that identity looks like is unclear, but Standard Sport had a go at predicting how Arbeloa could set up next season...

Fulham predicted XI for first game of season: Leno, Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson, Berge, Iwobi, Bobb, Mastantuono, Garcia, Kevin




https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/how-fulham-line-under-arbeloa-real-madrid-raid-b1289191.html

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Arbeloa promises Fulham fans 'an incredible journey together' after being named new boss
Fulham have confirmed the appointment of Alvaro Arbeloa as their new head coach.

Arbeloa replaces Marco Silva, who spent five seasons in charge at Craven Cottage before leaving this summer to join Benfica.

"It is a real honour for me to be embarking on this new stage at Fulham FC, the oldest club in London," Arbeloa said.

"I feel a great sense of responsibility and I'm deeply grateful to Mr. Khan and Tony Khan for the trust they have placed in me with Fulham in the Premier League.

"I am really looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere at Craven Cottage with Fulham fans and beginning pre-season with the players next week. I am sure we are going to enjoy an incredible journey together."

The 43-year-old has signed a three-year deal at the club and joins following a spell in interim charge of Real Madrid, having previously coached their youth teams.



https://hayters.com/arbeloa-promises-fulham-fans-an-incredible-journey-together-after-being-named-new-boss/

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Alvaro Arbeloa targets three Real Madrid stars after taking Fulham job
Former Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa has now been appointed as the new manager of Premier League club Fulham.

It looks like the tactician could quickly turn to Los Blancos after taking charge of the Cottagers, with three players on his radar.

Franco Mastantuono, Fran Garcia and Gonzalo Garcia are all said to be on his radar.

Indeed, according to Nizaar Kinsella on BBC Sport, Arbeloa is keen to bring the Real Madrid trio to Fulham after agreeing a three-year contract with the Premier League club.

The potential moves would include one loan deal and two permanent transfers.

Arbeloa looks towards Real Madrid
Fulham want to sign Mastantuono on loan while signing Fran and Gonzalo on permanent transfers for Arbeloa's new project.

Arbeloa's interest is understandable given his knowledge of Real Madrid and the players.

A manager arriving at a new club will naturally look towards footballers he understands and trusts, especially when trying to establish his ideas quickly.

The three cases, however, would have to be considered separately by Los Blancos.

Fran Garcia has been heavily linked with a move to Real Betis, with a €4 million deal already progressing and likely to be completed soon.

The arrival of Marc Cucurella and the presence of Alvaro Carreras have all but ended any hopes of game time for Fran at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The other two, on the other hand, Gonzalo and Mastantuono, seem to be in Jose Mourinho's plans, at least until pre-season is over.

The Portuguese tactician is said to be keen on looking at both players first hand before making a decision on their futures.

Three different decisions for Madrid
Real Madrid will have to consider any potential Fulham move carefully. Loaning out Mastantuono is very different from selling a talented youngster like Gonzalo.

For the Argentine, regular Premier League minutes could potentially offer valuable experience if the club believe his immediate opportunities will be limited.

Any departure for the other two, though, would have to make sense financially and in terms of squad depth.

There could still be value in having a trusted former Real Madrid figure interested in players whose futures need resolving.

It remains to be seen whether Arbeloa's interest turns into potential offers for the players from the Premier League club, and how Real Madrid go about handling their futures.



https://madriduniversal.com/alvaro-arbeloa-targets-three-real-madrid-stars-after-taking-fulham-job/

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Florentino Perez and Jose Mourinho played key roles in Alvaro Arbeloa becoming Fulham manager
In the last 24 hours, former Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa has been appointed as the new manager of Fulham. The 43-year-old landed the job one week after he officially left the Bernabeu, although it had been confirmed weeks prior that he would be replaced at the helm by Jose Mourinho.

Despite a poor four-month spell as Real Madrid manager, during which he failed to win a trophy, Arbeloa's stock rose significantly, and that allowed him to end up at Fulham, where he hopes to make more of an impression. He did receive some help from his former club to land the position, with Nizaar Kinsella reporting that both Florentino Perez and Mourinho "gave glowing references to Fulham", with the mutual respect between the trio very much apparent.

During the hiring process, Fulham would have done their due diligence on Arbeloa, and that would have included calling up Real Madrid for a recommendation. The fact that Perez spoke personally shows that he has a lot of respect for the former head coach, who could end up returning to the Bernabeu in the future, depending on how his career goes in the Premier League.

Arbeloa planning Real Madrid raid
Now that Arbeloa is finally installed as Fulham manager, he can get to work on tactics – and also transfers. In regards to the latter, he looks set to raid his former club as part of his efforts to improve his squad, with Real Madrid trio Fran Garcia, Franco Mastantuno and Gonzalo Garcia all wanted, although the defender will not be heading to London as he has agreed to sign for Real Betis.

It'll be interesting to see how Arbeloa gets on at Fulham. He admitted that he could not implement his desired tactics during his Real Madrid spell, but that will not be the case at the Premier League club.



https://siempremadrid.com/florentino-perez-and-jose-mourinho-played-key-roles-in-alvaro-arbeloa-becoming-fulham-manager/

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Former Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa officially joins Fulham until 2029
Real Madrid had to work with two different managers during the last season. After appointing Xabi Alonso last summer, the Merengues decided to part ways with him only in January, and appointed Alvaro Arbeloa in his stead.

These two individuals had also seen their careers intertwine as players before that. After playing together for Liverpool, both the players moved to and played for the white club in the same summer.

Now, fate is going to ensure their futures also remain entangled to some extent. Alonso joined the Premier League side Chelsea this summer, and would be beginning his next project from the next season. Meanwhile, Arbeloa has also been looking for a club, and in recent days, he has been increasingly linked with another Premier League side, Fulham, which is headquartered in the same city as Chelsea, London.

Now, as MARCA has reported, his signing by Fulham has now been officially announced, and he has been given a long-term commitment, till 2029, by the English side. The Spaniard would replace Marco Silva on the London side's bench, as the latter joined Benfica to replace Jose Mourinho, so Real Madrid again turns out to be a factor in this appointment.

Having been promoted from the Championship, Fulham have been competing in the Premier League since the 2021-22 season. They have established themselves as a mid-table side in the Premier League, but also competed for a European place during the last season.

With his arrival, the aim of Alvaro Arbeloa and Fulham would be to continue with this status quo, especially with the departure of important players like Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez. Real Madrid fans would thus understandably be looking forward to the start of the Premier League, as the first match for Alvaro Arbeloa in charge of the Fulham team would be against none other than Xabi Alonso's Chelsea.



https://siempremadrid.com/former-real-madrid-coach-alvaro-arbeloa-officially-joins-fulham-until-2029/