- A former Liverpool defender is reportedly in line for a new role at Real Madrid
- He will replace Madrid icon Raul, who moves on from the role after six years
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A former Liverpool defender is reportedly in line to take on a key role at European heavyweights Real Madrid.
Spanish publication Marca reports Los Blancos icon Raul, who made over 740 appearances for the club, will step away from his role as manager of Real Madrid Castilla, the club’s second team, at the end of the season.
Raul has been in the post for over six years but Marca claims he is hoping to land a role within Madrid’s first team or a technical role for Madrid’s youth teams.
Marca reports Real Madrid have wasted little time in finding a replacement for Raul, with Alvaro Arbeloa set to take over.
Arbeloa, who made 98 appearances for Liverpool from 2006 to 2009, is already in the Madrid youth set-up where he has coached their Juvenil A, better known as their under-19s, since 2022.
Real Madrid icon Raul is reportedly set to leave his role as manager of the club’s second team
Raul has been in charge of Real Madrid Castilla for over six years but looks set to stay within the club
Former Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa has reportedly agreed to replace Raul in his role
The 41-year-old will also come face-to-face with his old side on November 27 when Madrid’s under-19s take on Liverpool in the UEFA Youth League.
Under Arbeloa, the team has beaten VfB Stuttgart 1-0 in the competition but, like their senior side, lost to Lille on October 2.
The team sits 17th in the UEFA Youth League table.
Arbeloa began his Madrid coaching career in September 2020 when he took charge of the club’s under-14 side.
During his time at Liverpool, Arbeloa helped the club finish third, fourth and second but unfortunately failed to secure any silverware.
He came frustratingly close to doing so as the Reds finished runners-up in the 2006-07 Champions League and made it to the semi-finals of the same tournament the following year.
However, it wasn’t long before he added to his trophy cabinet once he moved to Real Madrid, the club he began his professional career, in 2009.
Arbeloa helped Madrid win LaLiga in 2011-12 as well as the Copa Del Ray in 2011 and 2014.
Arbeloa joined Liverpool in 2006 after just one season at Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna
The 41-year-old went on to make 98 appearances for Liverpool and scored just two goals
Arbeloa secured a move back to Real Madrid in 2009, where he made 233 appearances
The right-back also played a key role in helping Madrid in the Champions League in 2014 and 2016 before departing to West Ham United in 2016.
But his crowning moment in football was helping Spain win the World Cup in 2010.
His only on-field contribution at the tournament was a 13-minute cameo in a group game against Honduras, which Spain won 2-0.
