Fulham hires Alvaro Arbeloa as coach after departure from Real Madrid

LONDON (AP) — Fulham hired Alvaro Arbeloa as manager in an overnight announcement Wednesday that completed a coaching merry-go-round involving Real Madrid and Benfica.

Arbeloa left Madrid at the end of last season, with Jose Mourinho taking over at the Spanish giant. Mourinho arrived after leaving Benfica, which has since appointed Marco Silva — who moved there after five years at Fulham.

The 43-year-old Arbeloa has signed a three-year deal at Fulham after being interim coach at Madrid for the second half of last season following the departure of Xabi Alonso. Before that, he was a youth coach at Madrid, and a former player there.

“I am really looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere at Craven Cottage with Fulham fans and beginning pre-season with the players next week,” Arbeloa said. “I am sure we are going to enjoy an incredible journey together.

Fulham chairman Shahid Khan said Arbeloa “built an exceptional case through our meetings in June” to become the team’s next coach.

“Alvaro is, by his own admission, very ambitious,” the chairman said. “He has spent quality time around the best players, clubs and methods in the game, experiences which will serve him well here at Fulham.”

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer