The Result Under The Result
MADRID — Álvaro Arbeloa confirmed Friday what many in Spain had taken for granted for weeks: he will not be Real Madrid's coach beyond Saturday's final game of the season.
When asked if the La Liga match against Athletic Bilbao would be his last, Arbeloa simply said, "Yes."
The matchup already has enough history; the job is to keep the reading list shorter than the tension.
The Useful Context
The 43-year-old was widely expected to leave after being unable to steer the team to a trophy following his promotion from the club's reserve team in January to replace the fired Xabi Alonso. Madrid lost to a second-division opponent in the Copa del Rey in Arbeloa's debut, exited the Champions League quarterfinals to Bayern Munich, and will finish second in La Liga to Barcelona.
Arbeloa said he will seek "new challenges" after his first major coaching job. "I have already made the leap, improved greatly over these four months, and I feel prepared for new challenges," he said. "Starting Monday, I will think about them."
The Part Still Unclear
Spanish media is already reporting that Madrid is seriously considering bringing back José Mourinho for a second stint, 13 years after he first coached the club. Mourinho has coached Benfica this campaign but recently said he will decide his future soon.
Saturday will also be the last game for veteran defenders Dani Carvajal and David Alaba, whose contracts are about to expire. Right back Carvajal, 34, has helped Madrid win six Champions Leagues since 2013, while the 33-year-old Alaba contributed in two of those European Cup conquests since arriving in 2021.