Alvaro Arbeloa confirms Real Madrid exit after season finale | OneFootball

Alvaro Arbeloa has confirmed he will leave his role as Real Madrid head coach after Saturday’s La Liga finale against Athletic Bilbao.

Promoted from the reserves after Xabi Alonso was sacked in January, his interim spell brought a Copa del Rey last-16 exit to second-division Albacete and league defeats to Getafe 0-1, Osasuna 1-2 and Mallorca 1-2. Those results ended Madrid’s title hopes, with Barcelona champions for the second year running. In Europe, they went out in the Champions League quarter-finals to Bayern Munich, 4-6 on aggregate.

According to L'Équipe, he told Friday’s press conference the Bilbao match at 21:00 will be his final game of the season on the bench.

He said he hopes it is only a farewell and called Real his home for 20 years. He added he does not know if it will be the last match of his life, and aims to enjoy it and try to win.

The 2010 World Cup winner said he was grateful to coach his beloved club for four months and believes he leaves a better coach than when he arrived. He reflected that in this period he thought more about Real Madrid than himself.

Asked about assisting José Mourinho, who is expected to succeed him 13 years after his 2010 to 2013 spell, the 43-year-old former right-back said Mourinho already has a trusted staff and he does not think there is a place for him.

Source: L'Équipe