Arbeloa Rules Out Joining Mourinho’s Staff, Confirms Exit as Real Madrid Coach

TL;DR: Arbeloa confirmed he will not coach Real Madrid next season and said he has no chance of joining Mourinho's staff if the Portuguese manager returns. He made the remarks ahead of the team's final La Liga match against Athletic Bilbao.

Florentino Perez appointed Arbeloa as head coach in January, replacing Xabi Alonso after a mid‑season change. The 2023‑24 season ended without a trophy, and Real Madrid host Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday for their last league game. Arbeloa spent seven seasons in the first team and later guided the Juvenil A side to a national title in 2019.

At a press conference on Friday, Arbeloa answered "Yes" when asked whether he would remain in charge for the 2024‑25 season. He stated that Mourinho, if appointed, would bring his own technical team and that there is no chance for him to be part of it, noting that Perez's January appointment followed Alonso's departure and the club expects Mourinho to take over the helm. Arbeloa added that from Monday he would begin considering his future options and would evaluate offers from clubs in Spain and abroad.

Arbeloa's exit clears the way for a potential high‑profile managerial shift at Real Madrid, and his refusal to work under Mourinho signals a clean break between the two camps, which could simplify the transition if the Portuguese coach is hired. The move also ends Arbeloa's second stint with the club, first as a player and later as a youth coach, after a season that yielded no silverware. The club’s sporting department will now assess candidates who can deliver immediate competitiveness.

Whether Florentino Perez formally names Mourinho as the new head coach and how Arbeloa proceeds with his coaching career, possibly in another league or role within football. Analysts expect a decision before the start of pre‑season training in early July.