Fulham have confirmed the appointment of Alvaro Arbeloa as the club’s new manager, handing the 43-year-old a three-year contract following Marco Silva’s departure. Silva has left Craven Cottage to take charge of Benfica, creating a vacancy that the Premier League side has now filled.
Arbeloa expressed his excitement after being unveiled, describing the opportunity as a privilege. He said it was an honour to begin this new chapter with London’s oldest football club and thanked chairman Shahid Khan and vice-chairman Tony Khan for the confidence they have shown by selecting him to lead Fulham in the Premier League.
The appointment marks the beginning of a fresh project for the west London club after five years under Silva, who decided to continue his career in Portugal despite receiving contract proposals from Fulham.
Club owners outline their expectations
Chairman Shahid Khan welcomed Arbeloa by highlighting the qualities that convinced the club to appoint him. He pointed to the Spaniard’s ambition and the experience he has gained while working alongside elite clubs, players, and coaching methods, believing those lessons will benefit Fulham.
Khan also praised Arbeloa’s commitment to youth development, noting his enthusiasm for the club’s academy structure and his willingness to provide opportunities for emerging players. According to the chairman, the new manager also shares the club’s desire to play an attacking style of football.
Before making the appointment, Arbeloa received strong backing from recently re-elected Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and the Spanish club’s new manager Jose Mourinho, both of whom offered positive references.
From Madrid to the Premier League
Arbeloa finished his time at Real Madrid at the end of last season after Mourinho succeeded him. Earlier in the year, he had stepped up from his role as a youth coach to become interim manager following Xabi Alonso’s departure in January.
He remained in charge for the final 28 matches of the campaign, guiding Real Madrid to a second-place finish in La Liga. During that spell, the club also reached the Champions League quarter-finals before being eliminated by Bayern Munich.
His work in Spain ultimately led Fulham to place their trust in him as the club prepares for a new chapter under different leadership.
Recruitment plans already taking shape
Fulham explored several managerial possibilities before settling on Arbeloa. Former Tottenham and Brentford manager Thomas Frank was among those connected with the position, while former Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna was considered too expensive because an £8 million compensation package would have been required before accounting for salary and staffing costs.
Last month, Fulham vice-chairman Tony Khan revealed that Silva had previously indicated he intended to remain with the club. However, he explained that the manager unexpectedly reversed his decision and accepted the opportunity to replace Mourinho at Benfica.
Arbeloa is already looking at strengthening his new squad and hopes to bring several players with him. The names mentioned are attacking midfielder Franco Mastantuono, full-back Fran Garcia, and forward Gonzalo Garcia.
