Alvaro Arbeloa has been announced as the new head coach of Fulham, signing a three-year contract with the Premier League club. This appointment marks Arbeloa's first foray into management in the English top flight.
Arbeloa, 43, was identified as Fulham's leading candidate to succeed Marco Silva, a move confirmed by the club on Tuesday night. The Spaniard recently had a brief tenure managing Real Madrid this season, taking over from his former Liverpool teammate Xabi Alonso. His time at the Madrid club concluded at the end of the season, with Jose Mourinho subsequently appointed as his successor.
The new Fulham manager has prior experience in the Premier League as a player, having spent four seasons in England. He played for Liverpool between 2006 and 2009 before a single season with West Ham United, where he retired in 2016-17.
Arbeloa expressed his enthusiasm for the new challenge at Craven Cottage. "It is a real honour for me to be embarking on this new stage at Fulham, the oldest club in London," he stated on the club's website. "I feel a great sense of responsibility and I'm deeply grateful to Mr Khan and Tony Khan for the trust they have placed in me with Fulham in the Premier League." He added, "I am really looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere at Craven Cottage with Fulham fans and beginning pre-season with the players next week. I am sure we are going to enjoy an incredible journey together. Come on Fulham!"
Arbeloa's debut match as Fulham's head coach will be against Chelsea on August 24. Notably, Xabi Alonso is now in charge of Chelsea.