Will Real Madrid sack Alvaro Arbeloa? What Champions League failure, La Liga struggles mean for coach's future

While he was not tagged with the official title of "interim" upon his hire, and therefore presumably had the designation of permanent manager, Arbeloa's arrival in the wake of Alonso's dismissal never felt strong. It always had the air of a short-term appointment, even if it was not such publicly. Real Madrid's decision not to announce the length of his contract made it seem as though the commitment to Arbeloa was minor.

Thus, a failure to impress in his short few months and inability to push for trophies makes it highly likely that Arbeloa will be replaced in the summer.

The Athletic report states that Arbeloa is well-regarded at Madrid and could potentially stay in a backroom role if he wishes, but that is unlikely since he has first-team ambitions for his career down the road.

Who will be next Real Madrid manager?

The likely dismissal of Arbeloa then begs the question about who could take over as next Real Madrid manager.

Of those who are expected to be available this summer, Mauricio Pochettino is the most likely to be named Arbeloa's successor. Pochettino is not expected to stay with the U.S. national team past the 2026 FIFA World Cup, especially after the sudden exit of sporting director Matt Crocker, who has a working relationship with Pochettino from their days at Southampton.

It's also possible that Thomas Tuchel could be available if he departs the England national team after the World Cup, and he would surely gun for such an opening if given the chance. England's performance at the World Cup will likely dictate whether he has a chance at the job or not, although it's worth noting that he signed a contract extension through to Euro 2028 back in February.

Another candidate could be Didier Deschamps, who has already confirmed he will leave the French national team after the World Cup, but the 57-year-old has not managed at the club level since leaving Marseille for Les Bleus in 2012, and his level of desire to continue coaching beyond this summer is not known.

Deschamps will be replaced by former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, who has reportedly coveted that France job for years. Florentino Perez would love to have Zidane back, but that seems out of the question barring a dramatic turn of events with the national team.

Andoni Iraola is departing Bournemouth this summer and could be an option, having been linked with multiple top jobs given his success with a sparse budget at the Cherries the last few seasons.

Xavi Hernandez is available but unlikely to be linked with the role given his extensive history on the other side of El Clasico, and Jurgen Klopp is almost certain to continue in his executive position at Red Bull Football where he is reportedly content.