Fulham have confirmed the appointment of Alvaro Arbeloa on a three-year deal.
The Cottagers were forced to find a new boss after Marco Silva turned down a new £3million-a-year contract.
2
Silva, who was in charge of the west London outfit for five years, has since returned to his native Portugal to take over Benfica.
And Fulham have now brought 2010 World Cup winner Arbeloa back to the Premier League.
The 43-year-old has made an instant return to the dugout after he was replaced at Real Madrid by Jose Mourinho.
talkSPORT understands Mourinho personally recommended Arbeloa to Fulham during talks with Fulham owner Shahid Khan.
Fulham had held talks with Frank Lampard, with the Chelsea legend taking Coventry to the Championship title in the 2025/26 season.
But it is believed that he is closing in on a new three-year deal in the West Midlands.
What has Arbeloa said about joining Fulham?
Arbeloa has since been whisked in, with the Spaniard expressing his delight at making the move to Craven Cottage.
In a late-night announcement, made at 11.45pm on Tuesday, he said: “It is a real honour for me to be embarking on this new stage at Fulham FC, the oldest club in London.
“I feel a great sense of responsibility and I’m deeply grateful to Mr. Khan and Tony Khan for the trust they have placed in me with Fulham in the Premier League.
“I am really looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere at Craven Cottage with Fulham fans and beginning pre-season with the players next week. I am sure we are going to enjoy an incredible journey together. Come on Fulham!”
2
Fulham’s confirmation of Arbeloa comes after star player Alex Iwobi told talkSPORT that the squad have been left in the dark over who will be replacing Silva.
Ful steam ahead
Arbeloa’s managerial career only started last summer, as he took control of Real Madrid Castilla – the club’s B side – before taking over the senior side following Xabi Alonso’s dismissal in January.
A product of the Los Blancos academy, Arbeloa made 237 appearances for Real across all competitions.
He was part of the side that won the LaLiga title in 2012, while also lifting two Champions Leagues and as many Copa del Reys.
And he is no stranger to the Premier League, having spent two-and-a-half-years at Liverpool between 2007-2009.
It was while at Anfield that he made the first of his 56 Spain appearances.
World Cup WhatsApp
Don’t miss an update from talkSPORT in our dedicated World Cup WhatsApp channel.
Search for ‘talkSPORT World Cup’ in your ‘Updates’ tab on WhatsApp and we’ll drop the proper, unfiltered football chat straight to your lock screen—no fluff, just pure talkSPORT energy.
It’s where you’ll find out all the new rules to watch out for, England and Scotland reaction and big match player ratings.
Plus there will be loads of debates on the biggest talking points as Haaland, Mbappe, Kane and the biggest names in football descend on America, Canada and Mexico.
And he was part of Spain’s ‘Golden Generation’ that dominated world football across a four-year period.
Spain won two European Championship titles in 2008 and 2012, while lifting the World Cup in between.
Arbeloa’s final season in professional football came at West Ham.
But it proved to be a disastrous campaign on a personal note as he was restricted to just four appearances, before he called time on his career in 2017.