Fulham news: Alvaro Arbeloa set for Xabi Alonso face-off as Cottagers reveal reasons behind head coach appointment

Fulham person named erstwhile Real Madrid brag Alvaro Arbeloa arsenic Marco Silva's imperishable successor. 

The Cottagers person been without a manager since Silva near astatine the extremity of his declaration to instrumentality implicit the reins astatine Portuguese giants Benfica.

Arbeloa rapidly emerged arsenic the frontrunner in Fulham's archetypal hunt for a caller caput manager since 2021. 

The Cottagers person present confirmed the assignment of the erstwhile Liverpool defender connected a three-year contract. 

Arbeloa has yet decided to marque a speedy instrumentality to absorption aft leaving Real Madrid astatine the extremity of the 2025-26 campaign. 

Fulham sanction Arbeloa arsenic caller caput coach 

The 43-year-old worked arsenic a manager successful Real Madrid's younker system, including a stint successful complaint of the Castilla (B) squad earlier being fixed the apical occupation pursuing Xabi Alonso's sacking successful January.

Arbeloa struggled successful his clip successful complaint contempt overseeing an awesome Champions League last-16 triumph implicit Manchester City.

Under Arbeloa's watch, Real Madrid suffered a astonishment Copa del Rey exit astatine the hands of second-tier broadside Albacete, mislaid to Bayern Munich successful the Champions League quarter-final and fell abbreviated of Barcelona successful a rubric contention that ended with a 2-0 decision successful the last Clasico of the season.

Arbeloa besides struggled with disharmony successful a breached dressing room, thing helium hopes to debar astatine Fulham, wherever helium should beryllium fixed greater power to instrumentality his ideas distant from the unit of managing a nine arsenic large arsenic Real Madrid.

“It is simply a existent honour for maine to beryllium embarking connected this caller signifier astatine Fulham FC, the oldest nine successful London," Arbeloa told Fulham's authoritative website.

"I consciousness a large consciousness of responsibility, and I'm profoundly grateful to Mr. [Shahid] Khan and Tony Khan for the spot they person placed successful maine with Fulham successful the Premier League.

“I americium truly looking guardant to experiencing the ambiance astatine Craven Cottage with Fulham fans and opening pre-season with the players adjacent week. I americium definite we are going to bask an unthinkable travel together."

Fulham proprietor explains determination to name Arbeloa

While determination whitethorn beryllium concerns implicit Arbeloa's deficiency of elder managerial experience, Fulham proprietor Shahid Khan has revealed that the caller caput manager presented an "exceptional case' to instrumentality connected the pugnacious situation of pursuing successful Silva's footsteps.

“Alvaro was an archetypal campaigner who built an exceptional lawsuit done our meetings successful June to go our adjacent caput coach, and it rapidly became rather wide that helium was – and is – the close choice. 

"I americium delighted that Alvaro has accepted the situation to propulsion Fulham forward, and I person nary uncertainty that our squad, unit and fans volition resonate with what his assignment means for the contiguous and aboriginal of our club.

"Alvaro is, by his ain admission, precise ambitious. He has spent prime clip astir the champion players, clubs and methods successful the game, experiences which volition service him good present astatine Fulham.

"Alvaro besides has large involvement successful our academy set-up and believes successful giving young players a chance. I loved proceeding that from Alvaro, arsenic good arsenic his intent connected playing attacking football.

"All of this and a batch much makes Alvaro Arbeloa an perfect acceptable to pb Fulham Football Club into the upcoming Premier League play and beyond.”

Arbeloa to commencement with Alonso showdown 

There volition beryllium thing of a Real Madrid reunion erstwhile Arbeloa officially begins his tenure with a clash against Chelsea connected the archetypal play of the Premier League season.

The West London derby connected August 24 volition spot Arbeloa look disconnected with his erstwhile Real Madrid teammate and predecessor astatine Los Blancos, Xabi Alonso.

The ex-Real Madrid brag was appointed Chelsea brag successful May, representing his archetypal occupation since leaving the Santiago Bernabeu earlier this year. 

After facing Chelsea astatine Craven Cottage, Fulham volition caput connected their travels for an distant gathering with Sunderland connected August 30.

Arbeloa volition surely person 1 oculus connected the crippled against Liverpool astatine Anfield connected September 12, erstwhile helium volition look to get the amended of a nine helium represented connected 98 occasions during his playing days.