Alvaro Arbeloa has officially confirmed he will step down as Real Madrid head coach at the conclusion of a turbulent, trophyless season.
The 43-year-old manager made the announcement during a press conference on Friday, ahead of his final LaLiga match against Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Arbeloa took the reins on an interim basis in January after Florentino Perez dismissed Xabi Alonso, but he failed to secure domestic or continental silverware.
The club’s underwhelming campaign was further marred by internal squad friction, including a high-profile training ground altercation between Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde.
To restore stability and discipline, Real Madrid has reportedly agreed to a two-year contract to bring back legendary manager Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho is poised for a sensational return to the Spanish capital after completing a remarkable unbeaten domestic campaign with Portuguese club Benfica.
Arbeloa explicitly ruled out joining the Portuguese tactician’s backroom staff, stating that Mourinho will arrive with his own established technical team.
Reflecting on his 20-year association with Los Blancos, the former defender emphasized that he views his departure as a “see you later” rather than a permanent goodbye.