Real Madrid set to part ways with manager Alvaro Arbeloa after Champions League exit
Real Madrid are expected to dismiss manager Alvaro Arbeloa at the end of the season following their elimination from the Champions League. According to a report from The Athletic, the club is now almost certain not to activate an option to extend his contract after a trophyless campaign. The decision comes after Bayern Munich knocked Real Madrid out of Europe's premier competition on Wednesday, effectively ending their season.
Arbeloa's position had been under intense scrutiny for months, with it widely understood that a deep Champions League run was necessary for him to retain his job. The 3-2 aggregate defeat to Bayern in the quarter-finals, following failures in La Liga and the Copa del Rey, has sealed his fate. Real Madrid currently sit nine points behind leaders Barcelona in the domestic league with six games remaining.
The former Real Madrid defender, who took over as manager in the summer of 2024, was relaxed about his future when speaking after the match in Munich. However, the club's hierarchy, led by president Florentino Perez, is poised to make a change. Arbeloa's tenure will conclude with a second consecutive season without major silverware, a standard deemed unacceptable at the Bernabeu.
Attention now turns to identifying Arbeloa's successor. The Athletic reports that Perez has already drawn up a shortlist of potential candidates. Among the names under consideration are former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane, France national team boss Didier Deschamps, and ex-Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Of the candidates, Pochettino is currently considered the most likely to be available and willing to take the role this summer. However, the report states that Klopp remains the preferred target for Perez, though it is uncertain if the German, who left Liverpool in 2024, is ready to return to club management. The search for a new manager is expected to accelerate immediately with Real Madrid's competitive season effectively over.
The impending managerial change signals the start of a significant summer of transition for Real Madrid. Alongside appointing a new coach, the club is planning a refresh of its playing squad, with several high-profile signings anticipated. The decision on Arbeloa provides clarity and allows the board to focus fully on securing their top target to lead the club into the 2026-27 campaign.
