Alvaro Arbeloa has been appointed as the new manager of Fulham, signing a three-year contract with the Premier League club that will run until 2029. The move comes after Marco Silva departed to take charge of Benfica, following Fulham’s 11th-place finish in the English Championship last season. Arbeloa, 43, will begin his role with the Cottagers ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
Arbeloa’s appointment marks a return to management after a spell with Real Madrid, where he took charge of 28 matches starting in January 2026. While at the Spanish capital, he guided the team to a second-place finish in La Liga, trailing behind FC Barcelona, but faced early exits in cup competitions. Real Madrid were eliminated from the Copa del Rey in the round of 16 by Albacete, and fell to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Arbeloa’s playing career saw him feature 56 times for the Spanish national team, culminating in a World Cup victory in 2010. A right-back known for his tactical discipline and defensive reliability, he previously played for Liverpool and Real Madrid as a player. He succeeded Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid, and will face his former manager on the opening day of the Premier League season, with Fulham hosting Chelsea on August 24th.
The decision to bring in Arbeloa represents a shift in direction for Fulham following Silva’s departure. Silva established a solid foundation at Craven Cottage, and Arbeloa will be tasked with building upon that success and potentially pushing for European qualification. His experience managing a high-profile club like Real Madrid, despite the lack of silverware, will be seen as a valuable asset as he navigates the challenges of the Premier League.
