Álvaro Arbeloa’s Sad And Disappointing Numbers As Real Madrid Manager
Álvaro Arbeloa’s spell in charge of Real Madrid came to an end after a disastrous season filled with painful eliminations and no trophies.
Arbeloa’s era officially came to an end
Álvaro Arbeloa’s time as head coach of Real Madrid’s first team officially ended this Friday, May 22, after the Spanish manager announced in a press conference that he will not continue with the club next season.
Although the news had already been circulating for weeks through rumors and reports around Madrid, Arbeloa himself finally confirmed his departure following a season full of sporting disappointments and heavy criticism surrounding the team’s performances.
Meanwhile, speculation continues to grow in Spain that José Mourinho could return to the Santiago Bernabéu next season, with many believing the Portuguese manager is now the leading candidate to replace Arbeloa.
A disastrous season that ended in the “Nada-plete”
Real Madrid’s season under Arbeloa fell far below the expectations of a club that is expected to compete for every major title every single year.
The first major blow came in the Copa del Rey, where Los Blancos suffered a shocking elimination against second-division side Albacete, a result that immediately triggered alarm bells around the club.
Later, the team was also knocked out of the UEFA Champions League after losing to Bayern Munich, once again failing to achieve the club’s biggest objective.
Finally, in LaLiga, Real Madrid never managed to recover. The team fell short in its attempt to catch FC Barcelona, and things became even worse after losing El Clásico, a result that practically handed the league title to the Catalans and officially completed what many fans are already calling a disastrous “Nada-plete” season.
Arbeloa’s numbers paint a disappointing picture
Beyond the frustration and criticism, the statistics themselves also reflected a very disappointing campaign for the Spanish manager.
In LaLiga, Arbeloa coached 18 matches, recording 12 wins, 2 draws, and 4 defeats. In the Champions League, he managed 8 games, winning 5 and losing 3. Meanwhile, in the Copa del Rey, he only coached one match… and was eliminated immediately.
Overall, Arbeloa leaves with a total record of 27 official matches as Real Madrid manager, collecting 17 victories, 2 draws, and 8 defeats. Those numbers are considered extremely poor by Real Madrid standards and perfectly summarize a gray, disappointing season far below expectations.
And to make matters worse, he still has one final match left before officially saying goodbye to the bench.
The one positive legacy Arbeloa could leave behind
If there is one aspect many supporters and analysts are willing to praise from Arbeloa’s short tenure, it is his commitment to promoting young players from La Fábrica and Real Madrid Castilla.
During his time in charge, players such as Thiago Pitarch, César Palacios, Manuel Ángel, Mesonero, Jorge Cester, and David Jiménez received important opportunities and even made their first-team debuts thanks to the trust shown by the Spanish coach.
That commitment to youth development may ultimately become the most positive element of a managerial spell defined mostly by poor results and disappointment.
Now, everything points toward Arbeloa returning to Real Madrid’s youth system while continuing to develop as a coach and perhaps, one day, earning another opportunity to seek redemption on the Santiago Bernabéu bench.
