Alvaro Arbeloa replaces Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid after Zidane-style coaching ascent | OneFootball

Alvaro Arbeloa has taken charge of Real Madrid after Xabi Alonso was dismissed on Monday. Marca called him the “new Zidane” on Tuesday, a nod to a coaching apprenticeship that mirrors Zinédine Zidane’s.

The former full-back made 238 first-team appearances for Madrid between 2004 and 2016 and won 56 Spain caps from 2008 to 2013. After retiring at West Ham in 2017, he returned to the club to begin coaching in the academy, echoing Zidane’s route.

He won the under-13 title in 2020-2021, then finished runners-up with the under-15s in 2021-2022. He subsequently led the under-18s for three seasons from 2022 to 2025.

After Raul left last summer, he took over Castilla and now departs mid-season, as Zidane did in 2016. The reserve side are fourth in Spain’s third tier with 10 wins, one draw and eight defeats.

At 42, Arbeloa succeeds close friend Xabi Alonso. They were team-mates at Liverpool from 2007 to 2009 before joining Madrid at the same time.

With Madrid they won the 2014 Champions League, the 2012 Liga and the 2011 and 2014 Copas del Rey. With Spain they lifted the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European titles.

Known as a combative, sometimes abrasive defender on either flank, he was strong in duels but offered limited attacking output. In 2011 José Mourinho said he was quick to understand what a coach wanted from him, a standard Arbeloa will now hope his players can meet.

Source: L'Équipe