Madrid's Quiet Gamble: Arbeloa Steps Up as Zidane and Klopp Enter the Frame
12 January 2026
Arbeloa Takes the Helm as Madrid Weighs the Future
Perez gives Álvaro Arbeloa a chance to lead until the end of the season.
Xabi Alonso's dismissal after Madrid's loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup has sparked speculation about who will replace him if Arbeloa does not prove himself in his first-team stint.
Madrid formally announced on Monday that the Spaniard Álvaro Arbeloa, the youth team coach, will take charge of the first team with no fixed term, though the expectation is likely until the end of the season.
The Inside Scoop: Zidane, Klopp and the Coaching Talks
According to Fabrizio Romano, Madrid had Arbeloa as a backup option since December.
Romano noted that Zidane's recent visit to the Bernabéu was not about returning to Madrid's dugout, but reflected his close ties with Florentino Pérez and club officials.
Romano added that Madrid had not reached any formal agreement with any coach for the next season, although several names are being considered and valued by Pérez.
He also mentioned that Zidane is Pérez's preferred choice, but Zidane already has a verbal agreement with the French national team to coach after the 2026 World Cup.
Madrid is expected to wait until after the World Cup to decide his fate.
Romano also referenced Jürgen Klopp, the former Liverpool manager and current Red Bull football executive, noting that Klopp is highly regarded inside Real Madrid, especially by Florentino Pérez, but no agreement has been reached yet.
In short, nothing is settled, and Real Madrid will monitor developments post-World Cup to chart their future, keeping an eye on the long game rather than a quick fix.
Two light notes from the transfer rumor mill: first, if coaching rumors were bullets, Madrid’s ammo would still miss the target but somehow win the fan poll; second, Arbeloa’s appointment might be the only shot that goes in, since the club’s rifle is aimed at stability rather than drama.
Punchline 1: Madrid's job market is so tight that Arbeloa might be the only candidate who arrives with a lunchbox and a whistle—and somehow that’s enough to be considered a tactical upgrade.
Punchline 2: If football hires were sniper drills, Real Madrid would stay quiet until the target drops; then they’d celebrate like a stoppage-time goal.
