Alvaro Arbeloa suffers nightmare start at Real Madrid after replacing Xabi Alonso

One former Liverpool player replaced another in the Real Madrid dugout this week, but Alvaro Arbeloa presided over one of Madrid's worst results of the season

Alvaro Arbeloa suffered a defeat in his first game in charge of Real Madrid(Image: 2026 Anadolu)

Former Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa suffered the worst possible start to his managerial tenure at Real Madrid, as Los Blancos were eliminated from the Copa del Rey by a second-tier team.

Madrid went down 3-2 at Albacete, conceding in the 94th minute to lose the game – having equalized just two minutes earlier to seemingly take the game to extra time.

Arbeloa fielded a slightly weakened side but there was still plenty of quality in the Madrid team, with Vinicius Junior, Arda Guler and Federico Valverde all lining up at Estadio Carlos Belmonte.

“At this club every defeat is a tragedy, so imagine one like this,” Arbeloa said. “Failure is the road to success. It will make us better. I am not afraid of failure. I have failed lots of times in my life, with knockouts more painful than this. I saw players who wanted to win, I can’t reproach them.”

Arbeloa left Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo and Aurelien Tchouameni out of the squad altogether, despite none of them being injured.

“I was convinced the squad selection was the right one – and I still think so now," Arbeloa said after the defeat. "The team I fielded, along with the players on the bench, was a great team.

"I have an extraordinary squad, with very talented and game-changing players. It's not easy for them, with only one day under a new coach, to do everything I've asked of them."

Arbeloa was installed as Madrid manager after Xabi Alonso was fired following Sunday's defeat by Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.

Xabi Alonso was dismissed by Real Madrid on Monday(Image: Getty Images)

Alonso boasted an impressive win rate in excess of 70 per cent across his 34 games in charge of the club, but that was not enough to keep his job.

"This professional stage is over, and it didn't go as we would have liked," Alonso wrote on Instagram following his departure. "Coaching Real Madrid has been an honor and a responsibility.

"I thank the club, the players and above all the fans and Madrid fans for their trust and support. I leave with respect, gratitude, and pride that I did my best."

Alonso has been mooted as a possible new head coach for Liverpool, should Arne Slot fail to get the team back on track following a disappointing first half of the season.