Álvaro Arbeloa has announced that he will depart from Real Madrid at the conclusion of the current season.
The former player bids farewell to the club after they were unable to secure victories in LaLiga or the Champions League.
Barcelona clinched the Spanish championship by defeating Madrid 2-0 in the Clásico, while Arbeloa’s squad was eliminated in the Champions League quarterfinals by Bayern Munich.
Arbeloa took over as head coach in January after the dismissal of Xabi Alonso, who had started the season in charge.
“I leave Real Madrid with immense gratitude towards my players,” he stated.
“They have made me a better person and manager, and I’ve enjoyed every day I spent with them. I am also thankful to the club president and [club general director] José Ángel [Sanchez] for the opportunity, and to everyone involved with the first team.”
“I part ways with Real Madrid feeling thankful. Over the last eight years, I have gained a deeper understanding of the club and made many friends, which makes me happy. I hope to return someday.”
“This is not a goodbye for good; I have always considered Madrid my home. My connection with Real Madrid spans 20 years, and it will always be my home.”
Reports indicate that Jose Mourinho has verbally agreed to return to Madrid, with an official announcement expected soon, according to ESPN sources.
When asked about the possibility of joining Mourinho’s coaching staff, Arbeloa replied: “I’m not here to discuss potential roles. Mourinho has a superb coaching team that is just as capable as he is. If he comes back to Real Madrid, he’ll bring his staff along, and I won’t be joining them.”
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Reflecting on his brief tenure, Arbeloa shared, “In the past four months, my focus has solely been on Real Madrid and upcoming matches. Starting Monday, I will concentrate on my future. Looking back, it’s remarkable to think just a year ago I was training with the youth and reserve teams, and now I’m here. I’ve made considerable progress in these four months and feel ready for new challenges.”
Arbeloa expressed his gratitude towards his players, saying, “I’m very thankful for our shared experiences over the last four months. I understand that it’s impossible to have the same relationship with everyone in a group of 25. There have been differences, as is natural. However, I’ve always addressed them positively, and they’ve treated me with respect in return.”
On his successor, he commented, “I generally don’t offer much advice. I trust that whoever takes over will have substantial experience. Disagreements are normal for any manager, particularly in a competitive dressing room like this, where everyone is eager to play.”
Information from Rodra and Alex Kirkland contributed to this report.