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Real Madrid confirmed they have parted ways with head coach Alvaro Arbeloa following a mutual agreement reached last month.
“Real Madrid C. F. and Alvaro Arbeloa have reached an agreement to end his time as coach of the first team,” the club said in a statement.
“Real Madrid is very grateful to Alvaro Arbeloa, who throughout his career at the club, since he arrived at our youth academy, has always shown loyalty, commitment and professionalism. He represents an example of the values of our club.”
Arbeloa, a former Real defender who previously coached the club’s youth and reserve teams, was appointed in January to replace Xabi Alonso. He guided the 15-time European champions to a second-place finish in La Liga.
Alonso had departed after a Spanish Super Cup defeat to Barcelona, but Arbeloa also struggled to stabilise a disrupted dressing room as results dipped in the second half of the season. Jose Mourinho has since replaced him.
Former Liverpool right-back Arbeloa has been linked with a move to Fulham, who are searching for a new manager following Marco Silva’s departure at the end of his contract in June.
The west London club finished 11th in the Premier League last season, narrowly missing out on European qualification.
According to Sky Sports, Fulham are awaiting a work permit for Arbeloa before finalising his appointment, while also working on agreements for members of his backroom staff.
The club are hopeful of confirming their new coaching set-up within the next week, with the squad due to return for pre-season later this month.
Arbeloa spent his entire coaching career at Real Madrid, progressing through the youth setup before briefly taking charge of the first team in an interim capacity last season.
As a player, he had two spells at the Santiago Bernabéu and also featured in the Premier League for Liverpool and West Ham United.
Fulham are also understood to have held talks with Kieran McKenna, but a move would have required an £8m compensation fee to release him from his Ipswich Town contract. McKenna has since left the club, stating he wanted a break to spend time with his family.