The Fulham managerial change merry-go-round is in full flow, as Marco Silva left the Cottagers following the expiration of his contract to take the Benfica job, vacated by the Real Madrid-bound Jose Mourinho.
In the latest twist in the Fulham managerial change talks, former Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa is in advanced talks to take over at Craven Cottage.
After taking charge of Los Blancos midway through the 2025/26 season, the Spaniard had an underwhelming spell in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu, bowing out early in the UEFA Champions League and falling short in the La Liga title race.
Arbeloa is no stranger to the Premier League, after spending time at Liverpool and West Ham United in his illustrious 15-year footballing career.
Now, with the Fulham managerial change and the hot seat available at Craven Cottage, will the Premier League be the perfect chance for the Spaniard to reinvent his managerial career?
Fulham Managerial Change: Marco Silva Out The Door And Off To Benfica
The 48-year-old Portuguese manager is a well-known figure in the Premier League, having taken charge of Hull City, Watford, Everton and Fulham in the English top-flight.
After taking charge of the Cottagers in July 2021, Marco Silva took Fulham straight back up to the Premier League at the first time of asking, earning 90 points and winning the EFL Championship title.
In the four Premier League seasons that followed, the Portuguese manager secured the Cottagers their highest-ever points tally with 54 points in the 2024/25 season.
The highest finish that Fulham managed was 10th place, but under Marco Silva’s stewardship, they became a solid mid-table Premier League side.
In just over 150 Premier League matches for Fulham, he won 58 games, drew 31, and lost 63, averaging 1.35 points per match in a stellar four-season stint in the English top-flight.
With Jose Mourinho departing Benfica, the door was always going to be open for Marco Silva to take charge, especially after he was no longer under contract and beginning the Fulham managerial change talks.
Since this announcement, the Fulham managerial change rumours have started to take centre stage for the West London side, who are now on the search for a new manager ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League season.
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Fulham Managerial Change: Is Alvaro Arbeloa The Man For The Job?
After retiring from football in 2017, Alvaro Arbeloa returned to Real Madrid, the club where it all began for the Spanish full-back.
From managing the Real Madrid youth team to the under-19 side and the Castilla team, the 43-year-old took charge of the first team in January 2026, following the dismissal of Xabi Alonso.
In the UEFA Champions League, alarm bells started to ring for Los Blancos’ hierarchy when Benfica won 4-2 in the league phase, which dropped Real Madrid into the Play-Offs.
After that scare, they were able to get through the Play-Offs and the Round of 16, but they were beaten 6-4 on aggregate by Bayern Munich and were eliminated at the Quarter-Final stage.
In La Liga, he took charge of 19 games and only lost four times, but it was not enough to keep up with FC Barcelona, as they lost out on the title again.
With that being said, would Arbeloa have what it takes to become a successful Premier League manager with the limited experience that he has?
The Spaniard had the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and many more superstars at his disposal at a giant club like Real Madrid.
Arbeloa also likes to utilise an attacking 4-3-3 system, which may see the squad be reshuffled at Craven Cottage, but with that being said, the Cottagers have the players at their disposal to fulfil the Spanish manager’s needs.
However, with the Premier League a lot more physical and the demands huge in such a tense league, the Fulham managerial change may need a league-proven manager, and the risk may be higher than the reward on this one.
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