Álvaro Arbeloa has officially confirmed that he will step down as Real Madrid manager at the end of the season following a challenging, silverware-free campaign.

The 43-year-old former Madrid defender took the reins in mid-January following the dismissal of Xabi Alonso but was unable to reverse the club’s fortunes. Under his short tenure, the team suffered a shocking Copa del Rey exit to second-division Albacete, bowed out of the Champions League quarterfinals to Bayern Munich, and fell 11 points behind arch-rivals Barcelona in La Liga.

Addressing the media in a press conference ahead of Saturday’s season finale against Athletic Club, Arbeloa confirmed that the match would be his last at the helm.

Despite the turbulent four months, which included public rifts with star forward Kylian Mbappé and other squad members, Arbeloa expressed deep appreciation for his time in the dugout. “I’m leaving Real Madrid with a great deal of gratitude towards my players,” Arbeloa said.

“They’ve made me a better person, helped me enjoy every day, taught me a great deal, and made me a better manager today than I was on January 12. I’m also very grateful to the club president and José Ángel Sánchez for the opportunity they’ve given me, and to everyone involved with the first team.”

With Arbeloa’s departure set, speculation has intensified regarding the return of José Mourinho, who has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to manage Los Blancos once again.

 Addressing the rumors of Mourinho’s arrival and whether he would consider a role in the new setup, Arbeloa completely ruled out the possibility. “Mou has a fantastic coaching team; he’s surrounded by excellent people. If he comes, he’ll do it with his own people, as it should be. There’s no chance that I’ll be joining him,” Arbeloa clarified, choosing instead to focus on his own future moving forward.

 “I feel ready for new challenges. From Monday onwards, it’ll be time for me to think about them.”

The final match of the season will also serve as a poignant farewell for veteran defenders Dani Carvajal and David Alaba, both of whom are leaving the club as their contracts expire.

Alaba, who lifted 11 trophies across five seasons but struggled significantly with injuries following an ACL tear in 2023, received high praise from club president Florentino Pérez. “David Alaba carries with him the affection of all madridistas for his dedication, his work, and an iconic image in our journey toward the Fourteenth, symbolizing the celebration of a victory that is now a part of our club’s history. Real Madrid will always be his home,” Pérez said in an official release.

Arbeloa echoed the sentiment of mutual respect inside the dressing room despite recent squad tensions, concluding, “Any manager can have differences with his players, but I’ve always resolved them in the best possible way, and they’ve done the same with me. They’ve always shown me great respect, and I’ve tried to show them the same in return.”