Álvaro Arbeloa becomes head coach at Fulham FC – first Spanish manager in the club's history

Career stops of a seasoned professional

Arbeloa joins the Cottagers from Real Madrid, where he had most recently been working in the youth setup. According to press reports, he had to make way in Madrid for returning coach José Mourinho, for whom Real paid 15 million euros in compensation. Meanwhile, Benfica Lisbon secured the services of Marco Silva, whose contract in London had expired after five years.

The move back to England is not a premiere for Arbeloa. As a player he already featured for Liverpool FC (2007 to 2009) and for West Ham United (2016 to 2017), where he also ended his playing career. He subsequently worked, among others, for FC Zürich, which he had guided back into the Swiss Super League in 2022 and, subsequently, into European competition – at 43, he thus ranks among the most experienced Spanish coaches of his generation.

Continuity after surviving relegation

Fulham had undergone a remarkable development in recent years. The club returned to the Premier League in 2022 and had since held its own consistently in the league. In the two seasons just past, the Cottagers finished in eleventh place in the table. That continuity is now to be maintained under the new coach, who has been given planning security with his contract through 2029.

The appointment is also historically notable because Arbeloa is the first Spaniard in the club's managerial position. While Slavisa Jokanovic, who held the post between 2015 and 2018, does hold a Spanish passport, he is considered Serbian. Arbeloa is therefore the first coach of purely Spanish origin from the country of the current European champions at the London club.

Historic premiere at Craven Cottage

According to the platform's data, Fulham has a total market value of 310.20 million euros and a 22-man squad. The club's most recent signing was Jonah Kusi-Asare. Under Arbeloa, the next step is now set to follow – with a clear commitment to continuity, but also with the ambition of further developing the club on the sporting side. The first competitive match under the new coach will come after the start of the Premier League season.

Arbeloa officially takes up his position on July 7, 2026. This marks the beginning of a new chapter in England for the former full-back, who won titles with Real Madrid and the Spanish national team – at a club known for its long tradition and its stadium on the banks of the Thames at Craven Cottage.