Is Real Madrid better off with Álvaro Arbeloa?

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 07: Alvaro Arbeloa, Head Coach of Real Madrid, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final First Leg match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern München at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 07, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Earlier this season, Real Madrid sacked former Bayern Munich midfielder and ex-Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso.

Alonso went from the most coveted coach on the market to unemployed in just a matter of months.

At the time, rumors indicated that Alonso was clashing with some of the team’s stars over his expectations for things like training and work ethic. Clearly, Alonso’s approach was different than his far-more-relaxed predecessor, Carlo Ancelotti.

When things came to a head, Alonso was canned and Álvaro Arbeloa was brought in to right the ship. While the 43-year-old appears to be popular with the players, his record is, well, not great:

While his record is not as good as Alonso’s, Arbeloa could make it all right with helping the team find a way to get past Bayern Munich next week at the Allianz Arena.

If he cannot devise a winning plan, Arbeloa could become the next Real Madrid coach deemed a non-fit for this squad.

If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…

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