Fulham have confirmed the appointment of former Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa as the club’s new head coach on a three-year contract.
The 43-year-old replaces Marco Silva, who has left Craven Cottage to take charge of Portuguese giants Benfica after five successful seasons in west London.
Alvaro Arbeloa Delighted to Join Fulham
Arbeloa says he is excited to begin a new chapter in the Premier League and is determined to build on the progress made by Fulham in recent years.
“It is a real honour for me to be embarking on this new stage at Fulham FC, the oldest club in London,” Arbeloa said.
“I feel a great sense of responsibility and I’m deeply grateful to Mr Shahid Khan and Tony Khan for the trust they have placed in me with Fulham in the Premier League.”
Shahid Khan Explains Fulham’s Decision
Fulham chairman Shahid Khan believes Arbeloa has the experience, ambition and philosophy needed to lead the club forward.
“Alvaro is, by his own admission, very ambitious,” Khan said.
“He has spent quality time around the best players, clubs and methods in the game, experiences which will serve him well here at Fulham.
“Alvaro also has great interest in our academy set-up and believes in giving young players a chance. I loved hearing that from Alvaro, as well as his intent on playing attacking football.”
Why Fulham Chose Arbeloa
Arbeloa’s appointment was reportedly backed by glowing references from Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and the club’s new manager Jose Mourinho, both of whom worked closely with the former Spain international during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid defender stepped into senior management after serving as a youth coach in Madrid, taking charge on an interim basis following Xabi Alonso’s departure in January.
He oversaw the final 28 matches of the season, guiding Real Madrid to a second-place finish in La Liga before their Champions League campaign ended in the quarter-finals against Bayern Munich.
Marco Silva Leaves for Benfica
Arbeloa succeeds Marco Silva, who opted to leave Fulham for Benfica despite being offered a new contract by the Premier League club.
Fulham vice-chairman Tony Khan recently admitted the board had expected Silva to remain at Craven Cottage before the Portuguese coach changed his mind and accepted the opportunity to return to his homeland.
Several high-profile managers were linked with the vacancy, including former Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford boss Thomas Frank, while a move for ex-Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna was considered financially unrealistic due to the reported compensation package involved.
Transfer Plans Already Underway
Arbeloa is expected to begin shaping his Fulham squad immediately and is keen to strengthen the team before the new Premier League season.
Reports suggest he would like to bring several players with him, including highly-rated attacking midfielder Franco Mastantuono, left-back Fran Garcia and forward Gonzalo Garcia.