Alvaro Arbeloa: What To Expect From New Real Madrid Manager | OneFootball

The Alvaro Arbeloa era at Real Madrid has begun. The Real Madrid hot seat is a coveted, cherished position that only a few fortunate individuals have been able to sit on. It makes men, breaks the weak, and punishes those who do not deserve it.

Arbeloa already hit his first roadblock. The first side he set up as Real Madrid manager fell embarrassingly to second division side Albacete in the Copa Del Rey. Is this result a sign of things to come, or has the former Real Madrid Castilla manager learned from this and got some tricks up his sleeve?

Who is Alvaro Arbeloa?

Alvaro Arbeloa is a former Real Madrid right back who was a dependable squad player for Los Blancos and part of the golden generation of the Spanish national team from 2008 to 2012. In Madrid, he won two Champions League titles, two Copa Del Rey trophies, and one La Liga title. With La Roja, he won the 2010 FIFA World Cup and two European Championships.

Since retiring from playing in 2017, Arbeloa completed his coaching badges over the following years. In 2020, he returned to Real Madrid as manager of the club’s Under 14 side. He went undefeated during his time with the Under 14s and was promoted to the Under 16s the following year, and then to the Under 19s the year after. He stayed with the Under 19s for three years, winning a domestic treble with Juvenil A. His steady progression continued when he replaced club legend Raul Gonzalez as manager of Real Madrid Castilla at the start of the 2025/26 season.

That progression eventually led him to the first team, taking over the reins following Xabi Alonso’s recent dismissal after the Supercopa de Espana final.

Alvaro Arbeloa Managerial Style

It is worth noting that Alvaro Arbeloa is not an interim or caretaker manager. He is Real Madrid’s fifty second full time manager. As Xabi Alonso found out the hard way, and something Carlo Ancelotti mastered, managing Real Madrid is not only about managing players but also managing egos. Arbeloa has shared dressing rooms with giants of the game and has been coached by formidable man managers himself. However, the fact that he has never managed anyone beyond youth level and is now tasked with managing Ballon d’Or contenders makes this a difficult transition.

Arbeloa was reportedly crucial in academy player Iker Bravo’s recovery. Bravo had been demoted to Juvenil A by Raul due to disciplinary and off field issues. Sources within the club say it was Arbeloa’s guidance that helped Bravo regain confidence and return to playing effective soccer.

Journalists and club personnel regard Arbeloa as someone who maintains strong relationships with his players. He believes in values such as redemption and second chances, but can also be firm when required.

Alvaro Arbeloa Tactics

Alvaro Arbeloa is reportedly a proponent of gegenpressing, the high press philosophy popularized by Jürgen Klopp, who is one of Arbeloa’s managerial idols. He prefers a classic 4-3-3 formation using wide wingers, which can shift into a 4-2-3-1 depending on match demands. His pressing is not constant but based on controlled triggers before the team regains its shape. Fullbacks are heavily involved, overlapping and delivering crosses to the center forward. Arbeloa has emphasized the need for specialist fullbacks and has reiterated that Federico Valverde will return to midfield where he performs best.

He values bravery over safe possession. His teams aim to recover the ball higher up the field and move vertically whenever possible. Defense, midfield, and attack remain compact during out of possession phases, allowing quicker transitions after turnovers. Given his limited senior managerial experience, alternative tactical plans remain largely unknown. This blueprint has worked at youth level, but against stronger Spanish and European opposition the results remain to be seen. Albacete, a relegation threatened second division side, managed to expose some early vulnerabilities.

What To Expect From Alvaro Arbeloa?

Florentino Perez rarely turns inward toward La Fabrica when appointing first team managers. When Zinedine Zidane was appointed following Rafa Benitez’s dismissal, he too came directly from Castilla and went on to redefine the club’s modern legacy. Santiago Solari, however, could not replicate that success and was dismissed within six months. It will be interesting to see where Alvaro Arbeloa ultimately lands on that spectrum.

There is no publicly known contract length for Arbeloa. For all we know, he is on a six month full time contract and Madrid will try to get someone more reputable once they navigate this tumultuous phase. 

Arbeloa has consistently helped young players develop during his time with Juvenil A and Castilla. He is likely to promote academy players he already trusts. First team youngsters such as Gonzalo García, Arda Güler, Franco Mastantuono, and Raúl Asencio could see expanded roles.

Can Alvaro Arbeloa handle the Real Madrid dressing room? Will his pressing philosophy convince stars like Kylian Mbappé to track back defensively? Compared to Xabi Alonso, he appears calmer and under less immediate pressure. His primary task is stabilization. To win trophies with this lot would be a miracle.