Fulham have officially confirmed the appointment of Alvaro Arbeloa as their new head coach after the Spaniard signed a contract with the Cottagers that will keep him at Craven Cottage until 2029.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s spell as Real Madrid head coach came to an end in June 2026 after taking charge of Los Blancos during the second half of the season. He was appointed following Xabi Alonso’s dismissal in January, with the club’s hierarchy selecting him as the Spaniard’s successor.
Despite facing plenty of criticism, Arbeloa delivered a respectable campaign but was unable to prevent Madrid from ending the season without a trophy. Winning silverware was widely viewed as the only realistic way for him to retain his position at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The 43-year-old has not been out of work for long, however. Arbeloa is now set for a return to the Premier League, where he previously played as a full-back for Liverpool, after agreeing a three-year deal to become Fulham’s new head coach.
“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.
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,” reads the statement.
“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,” said Arbeloa on his new role as Fulham coach.
Fittingly, his first league match in charge of the Cottagers will come against Xabi Alonso, who is also set to make his Premier League managerial debut after taking over at Chelsea.