Fulham has named Alvaro Arbeloa as its new head coach, handing him a three-year deal.
The 43-year-old former Real Madrid manager steps in for Marco Silva, who has opted to take charge at Benfica.
“Taking on this role at Fulham FC, London’s longest-established club, is a great privilege for me,” Arbeloa stated. “I carry a strong sense of duty and I’m truly grateful to chairman Shahid Khan and vice-chairman Tony Khan for the confidence they have shown in me at Fulham in the Premier League.”
Chairman Shahid Khan commented: “By his own account, Alvaro is highly ambitious. He has gained experience alongside top-tier players, clubs, and approaches throughout football, insights that will prove valuable during his time with us.
“Alvaro also shows a keen enthusiasm for our youth development system and is committed to offering young players opportunities. I was delighted to hear that from him, along with his determination to play attacking football.”
Arbeloa’s appointment received strong backing through glowing endorsements from Florentino Perez, recently re-elected as Real Madrid president, and the Spanish club’s incoming manager Jose Mourinho, under whom he played at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The one-time full-back departed Real Madrid at the close of the previous campaign and was succeeded by Mourinho, who had left Benfica. Silva subsequently chose to return to the Portuguese outfit as Mourinho’s replacement, despite Fulham’s attempts to keep him with new contract proposals.
In remarks made last month, Fulham’s vice-chairman noted that Silva had earlier “expressed a desire to remain” but later “shifted his position,” catching the board off guard with his exit from Craven Cottage following a five-year spell of achievement.
Former Tottenham and Brentford manager Thomas Frank was mentioned as a candidate for the Fulham position, while ex-Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna was considered too costly at £8 million, even before accounting for his wages and backroom team expenses.
Arbeloa had been working as a youth coach in Madrid before taking the helm on an interim basis following Xabi Alonso’s departure in January.
He guided Real Madrid through the last 28 matches of the season, during which they secured second place in La Liga and exited the Champions League in the quarter-finals following a defeat to Bayern Munich.
Arbeloa is eager to bring several players with him, among them attacking midfielder Franco Mastantuono, full-back Fran Garcia, and forward Gonzalo Garcia.
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