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Álvaro Arbeloa: From Real Madrid Legend to Manager
January 17, 2026 – Álvaro Arbeloa is celebrating his 43rd birthday and currently serves as the first-team manager of Real Madrid. His appointment, effective since Monday, marks a new chapter for the club following his successful tenure with Real Madrid Castilla since June 2025.
Early Career and Playing Success at Real Madrid
arbeloa’s connection with Real Madrid extends far beyond his current managerial role. He enjoyed a distinguished playing career with the club from 2009 to 2016,featuring in 238 matches and securing an remarkable eight titles. These include two Champions League titles, a FIFA Club World Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, one La Liga title, two Copa del Rey titles, and a Spanish Super cup [[1]].He was also a key member of the Spanish national team, winning a World Cup and two European Championships.
transition to Coaching
As 2020,Arbeloa has dedicated his coaching career to the youth system of Real madrid. He began by leading the Infantil A and Cadete A teams before achieving notable success with the Juvenil A squad. His leadership resulted in a remarkable treble in the 2022/23 season – winning the Liga, Copa del rey, and Champions Cup – and a further La Liga title in the 2024/25 season.
Appointment as First-Team Manager
Arbeloa’s appointment as first-team manager follows a period of change at Real Madrid. he stepped into the role after the departure of Xabi Alonso, following a Supercopa final loss to Barcelona [[1]]. His deep understanding of the club’s culture, combined with his proven track record in developing young
