Real Madrid is well known for frequent changes in its coaches and management style, but this recent appointment of Álvaro Arbeloa as coach has caused some major waves throughout Spain. Shortly after dismissing Xabi Alonso, many fans and analysts are skeptical about this appointment because it seems many view this appointment as a hasty choice due to Arbeloa's lack of prior experience coaching at the senior level. Ultimately, however, Real Madrid believes this appointment is not just a hasty or reckless decision; it is based on a strong sense of continuity, identity, and long-term vision for the club.

Why the Appointment Raised Eyebrows

Initially, the promotion of Arbeloa may appear to contradict the club's habit of hiring proven, elite-level coaches. Historically, the club has primarily hired successful coaches who have a track record of winning trophies in the past, such as Carlo Ancelotti or José Mourinho, to lead the team to immediate success. As a result, due to his lack of a high-profile coaching background, Arbeloa's promotion raises questions about whether he can achieve that same success.

Football fans are accustomed to seeing a football team come to success immediately, so it is difficult for them to cope with the large expectations of the club juxtaposed with the fact that the current coach has primarily coached youth and reserve teams. With Real Madrid currently behind Barcelona in the La Liga standings and after losing in the Super Cup final, there will not be enough patience in terms of the coaches' contributions. This is reflected in the fact that the appointment of the coach has caused doubt with the club and fans; moreover, the way in which the coach was hired has caused fans to be angry.

Real Madrid’s Philosophy: Identity Over Reputation

While many people are skeptical of Arbeloa, the way he has been appointed fits directly into a philosophy established by Real Madrid over many years. As a rule, whenever Real Madrid perceives a threat to its identity or internal cohesion, it generally responds by seeking solutions from within their own organisation; and, historically, Real Madrid has used former players familiar with its culture and expectations of performance to serve as effective guardians of its core principles.

Zinedine Zidane's approach paid off, as he had a unique understanding of the locker room, which led to long-term success. Although Álvaro Arbeloa does not have the same level of fame or success as Zidane, he shares similar values with Zidane: loyalty, loyalty towards the institution and the determination to achieve victories at all costs.

When introduced, Arbeloa stated that he has had a connection with Madrid for 20 years and reiterated that the Goal of the Club is "to win, again, and again".

Lessons from Past Internal Appointments

Mixed data in history show internal promotion as a possible way to promote stability and authority, but internal promotion can be an uncertain route. An example of this is the brief and inconsistent results of Santiago Solari's appointment as Head Coach upon his promotion from the Reserve team in 2018; although he was familiar with the club, he was unable to create an environment of stability and authority for the club and therefore only lasted a period of less than 6 months.

While maintaining continuity through internal appointments, fans typically remain sceptical of the lack of experience at the highest level, creating a heightened sense of apprehension. Arbeloa has assumed this position with a long-standing understanding that he will not be able to rely on sentiment and loyalty for protection from criticism if results are not achieved.

Arbeloa’s Coaching Profile and Tactical Vision

Arbeloa has established a clear vision for football. Since Arbeloa started coaching in 2020, he has only coached players at Real Madrid's Academy and has won Youth Championships and established credibility within the organisation. Arbeloa prefers an attacking style of play and is known for high pressing and proactive game-management skills during his time as Castilla's manager

In his tactical approach, Arbeloa believes in playing a 4-3-3 style of football with a strong focus on attacking play down the flanks using wingers that are positioned on their natural side of the field. Arbeloa prefers an attacking approach as opposed to Alonso's more defensive-minded tactics, and good communication skills and a friendly disposition back up Arbeloa's style. José Mourinho highly influences him as a player, and he acknowledges Mourinho's influence, but has made it clear that he doesn't want to copy any of his predecessors. He stated, "I want to be myself as Álvaro Arbeloa," reinforcing his desire to be true to himself.

Fan Reaction and Dressing Room Uncertainty

The reaction of Alonso's supporters is split. Some supporters have recognised his inability to implement his philosophy, while many others feel that the decision to relieve him of his position was premature. Reports of factions within the locker room created further confusion, but players such as Jude Bellingham publicly characterised any notion of unrest as "damaging Misinformation" to quell speculation.

Some fans see the issue with Arbeloa is not simply that he may not be ready and capable of leading the club, but also the situation that he is entering. Being appointed to lead a team during the season, with significant expectations from outside and limited room for error, represents a significant challenge for a coach and especially one as new to the profession as Arbeloa currently is.

No Contract Clarity and Questions About the Future

The ambiguity regarding Arbeloa's length of contract has compounded the situation for him. The current lack of information means that Real Madrid have left themselves the flexibility to explore different options, especially with the speculation that Jürgen Klopp could be appointed in due course. This speculation continues to put additional pressure on Arbeloa, as he may find that his time with Real Madrid will be viewed as a stopgap rather than as a long-term project.

At this moment, Arbeloa has opted to concentrate on his immediate task at hand. He has indicated that he has a motivated team of players who want to make a fresh start and who are willing to work hard until the end of the season. His message is about beginning anew and allowing all the players to start over.

Conclusion

Whether Arbeloa’s appointment is seen as quick or intelligent will depend on what happens in the future. At Real Madrid, an individual’s identity is important, but what matters most is winning. The fact that Arbeloa is loyal to the organisation and has a good understanding of the organisation will provide him with some initial confidence, but he will need to be successful consistently for this decision to be judged good. In Madrid, confidence must be converted into winning quickly.