Fulham hires former Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa

Fulham Football Club has appointed former Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa as its new head coach on a three-year contract, the club announced Wednesday. The 43-year-old Spaniard succeeds Marco Silva, who departed the Premier League side after five seasons to take charge of Portuguese club Benfica.

Arbeloa, who signed his contract on July 8, is moving swiftly to reshape the squad, with reports indicating he is targeting three players from his former club. The primary target is 18-year-old Argentine attacking midfielder Franco Mastantuono, who would join on loan. Fulham is also pursuing permanent deals for defender Fran García and another player identified as Gonzalo García. Arbeloa’s familiarity with the players from his time at Real Madrid is seen as a key advantage in the negotiations.

The new manager arrives at Craven Cottage after a turbulent five-month stint in charge of Real Madrid’s senior team, which he took over in January following the dismissal of Xabi Alonso. His record across 28 games included 18 wins, two draws, and eight defeats, with no trophies won. While his tenure saw the team eliminated from the Copa del Rey by second-division Albacete and from the Champions...