Raúl's Replacement at Real Madrid Has Been Confirmed
The former club defender takes over from Raúl González to lead the Spanish giants’ reserve team.
From Club Legend to New Castilla Boss
Álvaro Arbeloa, current coach of Real Madrid's Juvenil A team, has been officially appointed as the new manager of Castilla, following the departure of Raúl González, who stepped down earlier this week.
Born in Salamanca and raised in Zaragoza, Arbeloa began his football journey at Colegio El Salvador and later joined the Real Zaragoza youth academy. In 2001, he moved to Real Madrid's youth system and was part of the Castilla squad that earned promotion to the Segunda División in 2004/05, alongside notable names like Juan Mata, Rubén de la Red, Esteban Granero, Roberto Soldado, and Álvaro Negredo.
He made his LaLiga debut in 2004 against Real Betis but moved to Deportivo La Coruña in search of more playing time. After a brief stint, he joined Liverpool under Rafa Benítez, playing three seasons before returning to Real Madrid in 2009, where he became a fan favorite and a reliable presence in the squad.
Trophies, Experience, and a New Challenge
During his seven-season spell with Real Madrid, Arbeloa played 238 matches and lifted an impressive list of trophies: two Champions League titles, one Club World Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, one LaLiga title, two Copa del Rey trophies, and one Spanish Super Cup.
Internationally, he made his debut for Spain in 2008 and earned 56 caps. He was part of the historic generation that won EURO 2008, the 2010 World Cup, and EURO 2012.
After retiring in 2017, Arbeloa started his coaching career in Real Madrid’s youth system in 2020. He first coached the Infantil A, then the Cadete A, and since 2022 has led the Juvenil A, winning the domestic treble (League, Copa del Rey, and Champions Cup) in 2022-23. This season, he secured another league title and is currently competing in the final stages of the Champions Cup.
Now, Álvaro Arbeloa steps up to take charge of Castilla, replacing another Real Madrid icon in Raúl, who spent six seasons managing the club’s B team in Spain’s Primera RFEF. The move reinforces the club’s commitment to developing talent from within and continuing a legacy led by former players who know the institution inside and out.
