Fulham hold talks with Alvaro Arbeloa to replace Marco Silva | OneFootball

Fulham have held talks with former Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa as they continue their search for Marco Silva’s successor, according to The Athletic.

The west London club are in the market for a new manager after Silva ended his successful five-year spell at Craven Cottage to join Portuguese giants Benfica.

Fulham have been assessing candidates, with Arbeloa now emerging as a serious contender for the vacancy.

The 43-year-old saw his brief stint in charge of Real Madrid come to an end earlier this week following Jose Mourinho’s appointment at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Arbeloa stepped up from the club’s reserve side in January after Xabi Alonso’s departure, but struggled to make a lasting impact during his six-month tenure.

His first match in charge ended in a shock Copa del Rey exit against second-tier Albacete.

Madrid were later knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich at the quarter-final stage.

Los Blancos also finished second in La Liga, ending the campaign eight points behind rivals Barcelona.

Despite those setbacks, Arbeloa remains highly regarded in Spanish football and has an impressive playing career, including spells in the Premier League with Liverpool and West Ham United.

The former defender won two Champions League titles with Real Madrid and was part of Spain’s golden generation that lifted the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships.

However, Fulham supporters will be questioning whether Arbeloa is the best appointment available. His managerial resume is quite thin.

More proven options are available with a little prodding. Al-Ahli boss Matthias Jaissle has excelled in Saudi Arabia, following a dominant spell with RB Salzburg.

Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness continues to bolster his reputation as one of Germany’s brightest tacticians and needs a new environment to fulfil his world-class potential.

Lille’s Bruno Genesio and recent Villarreal manager Marcelino bring serious top-level experience.

Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna remains one of the most highly regarded young coaches in British football, although he reportedly wants a break from football.

Compared to those names, Arbeloa feels more like a gamble and one they should not be taking when there are already so many uncertainties at Craven Cottage.

Raul Jimenez is leaving, and playmaker Harry Wilson will follow him out the door. Samuel Chukwueze’s future is also up in the air.

Fulham need to move quickly while avoiding unnecessary risks, such as Arbeloa.