Real Madrid Club de Fútbol has officially announced that Álvaro Arbeloa has taken up the position of the new first-team manager.
Following Real Madrid’s official managerial change, Álvaro Arbeloa has been appointed as the club’s new head coach, taking over from the recently dismissed Xabi Alonso. Arbeloa now steps onto the dugout of the team he represented for many years, in the capacity of first-team manager. In fact, this is not Arbeloa’s first stint coaching a professional side. In August 2025, he took over the reins of Real Madrid Castilla from Raúl González.
The 43-year-old Arbeloa was born in Salamanca (on January 17). He moved to Zaragoza with his family during his childhood and first got into football there. He showed remarkable talent during his school years and later entered Zaragoza’s youth academy. In 2001, Arbeloa joined Real Madrid’s youth system, gradually embarking on his professional career. His La Liga debut did not come in a Real Madrid jersey, however; it was during his spell at Deportivo La Coruña. After that, he also played in the Premier League, representing Liverpool and West Ham United successively. Throughout his playing career, his spells at Real Madrid and the Spain national team are regarded as his most iconic experiences.
Beyond football, Arbeloa’s personal background also draws attention. He graduated from Universidad Camilo José Cela with a degree in journalism. On the family front, he has known his childhood sweetheart Carlota Ruiz from Zaragoza for many years. Carlota holds a double degree and works as a primary school teacher and speech therapist.
Unlike many figures in the football world, Arbeloa has always kept his family life low-key. The couple tied the knot in 2009 in an intimate ceremony that did not attract much public attention. They have four children together—three daughters and one son—and currently reside in La Finca, an upscale residential area in Madrid, though few details about their home have been made public.
It is worth noting that when Alonso returned to coach Real Madrid in 2025, Arbeloa, who had long served in the club’s youth academy system, also reached a key milestone in his career, marking a highlight of his professional journey at that time.
Arbeloa posted on social media to celebrate the start of this new phase and express his support for Alonso: “Absolutely delighted to start this new chapter. We have written history together, and we will continue to create new history. Let’s work hard together, Xabi. Hala Madrid!”
This joy was not to last long, however. With the club’s hierarchy deciding on a managerial reshuffle, Arbeloa eventually replaced Alonso to become Real Madrid’s new head coach, stepping firmly into the spotlight.
