Try to be Mourinho and I fail: new Real Madrid coach Arbeloa

New Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa insisted on Tuesday that he would be at the helm of the Spanish giants himself rather than trying to imitate Jose Mourinho.

Arbeloa, who was an ally of his then coach Mourinho during his playing days at Madrid, has drawn comparisons with the Portuguese veteran for his approach to management.

The 42-year-old former defender was appointed as Xabi Alonso’s replacement on Monday after Real Madrid lost the Spanish Super Cup final to rival Barcelona on Sunday.

«I haven’t spoken to Jose yet. For me it was a privilege and an honor to be coached by Jose Mourinho,» Arbeloa told a news conference.

“I have a great relationship with him… and obviously he was someone who influenced me enormously, I carry him within me.

“(However) I will be Alvaro Arbeloa because while it is true that I am not afraid of failure and never have been, I am sure that if I tried to be Jose Mourinho I would fail spectacularly.”

Mourinho, currently coach of Benfica, managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013 and won one La Liga title.

At the time, he was battling Pep Guardiola’s dominant Barcelona, ​​when the fierce rivalry between the Catalans and Real Madrid was at its most bitter.

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Barca currently lead Madrid at the top of La Liga by four points, and it will be up to Arbeloa to turn the situation around, although his first game in charge is against Albacete in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.

Arbeloa, who coached Madrid’s reserve side and previously worked with the club’s youth teams before being promoted, said success is the most important thing for the 15-time European champions.

«This club wins, wins and wins again. That demand on ourselves, which shows the DNA of what got us here, that filled our trophy cabinets (is what I want),» Arbeloa continued.

“When I was a player, I got those values ​​from the players in the dressing room, and for me that’s the most important thing… to be able to excite the fans that we have around the world and try to leave those cupboards even fuller.

“That is my job, that is my obsession and what I will live with every day.”

Madrid did not reveal how long Arbeloa’s contract as first-team coach would last.

“What I can tell you is that I have been home here for 20 years, and I will stay with Real Madrid for as long as they want me here,” Arbeloa added.

“This is my home, that’s how I feel, and that’s how it always will be.”

No Mbappe

Striker Kylian Mbappe was absent as Arbeloa took charge of his first training session ahead of the visit to second division club Albacete on Tuesday.

Mbappe made his comeback from a knee sprain on Sunday as a late substitute in the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona, ​​but is likely to continue working on his recovery until next Tuesday’s Champions League match against his former club Monaco.

A Real Madrid source told AFP it was «logical» for Mbappe to be absent from training given his knee problem.

Former coach Alonso had admitted it was a calculated risk to include Madrid’s top scorer in the match against Barca in Saudi Arabia.

Arbeloa said he had a close relationship with Alonso, a former Madrid and Spanish national team teammate.

“Everyone here knows the bond that connects me to him, the friendship that connects me to him, how much I appreciate him, how much I love him, and I know that it is mutual, has been mutual and will continue to be mutual,” Arbeloa said.

Alonso, replaced after less than eight months at the helm, said on social media he would leave the club after giving his best.

“It didn’t go the way I wanted,” the Basque coach wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.

«Coaching Real Madrid has been an honor and a responsibility. I am grateful to the club, the players and especially the fans for their trust and support.»

“I leave with respect, gratitude and pride that I did the best I could.”

Published on January 13, 2026