Former West Ham United defender Alvaro Arbeloa has endured a nightmare start as manager of Real Madrid.
In a rather surprising turn of events earlier this week, Arbeloa was named as Real Madrid manager following the sacking of Xabi Alonso.
Arbeloa, of course, spent a year at West Ham as his trophy-laden playing career was coming towards the end.
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That spell only yielded four appearances, but Arbeloa impressed the coaching staff at West Ham with his professionalism even after winning the lot with both Spain and Madrid.
However, his dream role in charge of the club where his career in the sport all started did get off to the worst possible start on Wednesday night.
Real Madrid lose to second division side Albacete in the Copa del Rey
Indeed, sadly for Arbeloa, he oversaw a dramatic defeat away at Albacete.
They are fighting relegation in the Spanish second tier but managed to score a stoppage-time winner to record their first ever win over Los Blancos.
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While Madrid did select several youth players for the game, they did have the likes of Dean Huijsen, Federico Valverde and Vinicius Junior on the pitch.
Still, Arbeloa insists that he had no regrets about his team selection.
In quotes sourced by The Athletic, he said: “I don’t regret it, I have a great squad and I would do it again a thousand times over.”
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Of the result more generally, he said: “At this club, a draw is a tragedy, imagine a defeat.
“I imagine that all our fans are disappointed, especially with a lower-ranked team. From here on, we must improve. I am responsible.
“I’m not afraid of failure. Anyone who wants to talk about failure, let them do so. For me, it’s the path to success. I’ve failed many times in my life, even worse than this, and tomorrow we’ll return to Valdebebas [Madrid’s training ground] with more enthusiasm.”
West Ham convinced Alvaro Arbeloa to retire
It’s been a big week for former Hammers landing big coaching jobs at massive clubs.
Indeed, former West Ham midfielder Michael Carrick has been appointed as Manchester United’s new head coach until the end of the season.
Arbeloa had been in charge of Real Madrid’s B team, so did seem like a logical appointment while the Spanish giants decide on where to go next.
Interestingly, it was that playing spell at West Ham that convinced the former defender to hang up his boots and move into the coaching game.
In 2017, he told Marca: “I always thought I would play until my legs held out, but in the end it was a head and motivation issue.
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“Many times you consider life in a way or see the future in a way, but life has other things prepared and you have to know how to accept them and face them.
“Things this season did not come out as I had dreamed. I am being honest with myself when I say goodbye.”
He added: “It has been complicated. It’s something that when it comes to my mind I try not to think much about.
“At a professional level it has not been an easy year and that also has a personal impact, of course.”
Less than three years after retiring at West Ham, Arbeloa joined Madrid’s coaching system and hasn’t looked back since. Well, until Wednesday night…
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