Fulham have revealed ex-Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa as their new head coach.
The Cottagers were left rudderless when previous boss Marco Silva decided to leave the club upon the expiry of his contract at the end of last season so as to replace Jose Mourinho at Benfica.
There was plenty of speculation as to who the west London club might hire, with names including Arne Slot and Kieran McKenna touted as potential options, but the Spaniard Arbeloa has won the race.
He has signed a three-year deal which will keep him on the banks of the Thames through the summer of 2029.
A decorated player with Real Madrid, Liverpool and West Ham and a Tournament winner with Spain, Arbeloa’s early forays into management have been somewhat troubled.
He got his start with Real Madrid’s B team in 2025 and was promoted to first-team head coach in January of this year following the sacking of Xabi Alonso.
Alonso has since been appointed manager of Fulham’s west London rivals Chelsea, whom Arbeloa will face in his first Premier League match.
His six-month spell with Los Blanos was fraught. Reports in Spain suggested he fell out with senior members of his squad as he attempted to right the ship following Alonso’s dismissal, and the season ended trophyless.
But he will get a fresh start in the Premier League with Fulham, who finished last season just one point adrift of the European places.
“It is a real honour for me to be embarking on this new stage at Fulham FC, the oldest club in London,” he said via the club’s website.
“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’s owner Shahid Khan said Arbeloa “built an exceptional case” for himself throughout interviews in June, saying: “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.”
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