Real Madrid have appointed former defender Álvaro Arbeloa as their new head coach, replacing Xabi Alonso following his dismissal.

The club parted ways with Alonso on Monday after just seven months in charge, a decision that came a day after a 3–2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.

Arbeloa steps up from his role as head coach of Real Madrid Castilla, the club’s reserve side, where he had been working prior to the appointment.

The 42-year-old is a product of Real Madrid’s academy and began his professional playing career at the club before moving to Liverpool, where he played alongside Alonso.

He returned to the Santiago Bernabéu in 2009 and went on to spend seven seasons with the senior team.

After retiring from professional football, Arbeloa rejoined Real Madrid in 2020 as a coach within the club’s youth setup, rising through the ranks to his latest appointment.