Shown the door by Real Madrid, Alvaro Arbeloa has not waited long for his next chance: the Spaniard has been named head coach of Fulham, signing a contract with the London club that runs until the summer of 2029.
Arbeloa fell short of the targets set for him at the Bernabeu last season, yet fate has handed him a curious twist. He steps in for Marco Silva, who left for Benfica — and from Benfica, the man who once replaced Arbeloa himself at Real, Jose Mourinho, has moved to Madrid.
Whatever the disappointment in Spain, the Premier League is hardly foreign territory for Fulham's new boss. He knows English football from the inside, having played for both Liverpool and West Ham.
"It is a true honour for me to be working at London's oldest club, Fulham," Arbeloa declared, clearly eager to get started with his new players.
So can the man Madrid deemed not good enough prove that England is where he truly belongs — or will this be just another short-lived adventure?
