Madrid, 22 May 2026
Alvaro Arbeloa confirmed on Friday that he will step down as Real Madrid coach after Saturday's match against Athletic Bilbao, which will also mark David Alaba's final game for the club.
The 43-year-old Spaniard made the announcement during a press conference, revealing his decision to leave despite having a contract that originally ran until 2027. Arbeloa had taken over from Xabi Alonso in January of this year.
"Real has been my home for twenty years, in different roles," Arbeloa said. "I don't know if this will be the last one of my life, because you never know."
The match will serve as a farewell for Austrian defender David Alaba, who joined Real Madrid from Bayern Munich in 2021. During his time with the Spanish giants, Alaba won two Champions League titles and two La Liga championships.