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Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa has confirmed he will step down at the end of the season. Arbeloa, who took over from Xabi Alonso in January after being promoted from the club’s B team, is departing following a season without silverware. He is set to be replaced by Jose Mourinho, who is currently in final negotiations to return to the club he previously managed from 2010 to 2013. Mourinho is expected to join from Benfica where he has coached this season.
Speaking in a news conference prior to Real's final match of the season, at home to Athletic Club on Saturday, Arbeloa said he would be departing rather than joining Mourinho's staff.
"Mou has a fantastic technical team, he's got good people around him, if he comes to Madrid he will come with his team," said Arbeloa.
"There's no chance that I would be with him. Then, my future... from Monday I'll think about that.”
Real will finish the season as La Liga runners-up, without a major trophy for the second year in a row, having exited this season's Champions League against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.
Arbeloa played for Real between 2009 and 2016 and has been coach for the past five months.
Real supporters are likely to reflect on Arbeloa's tenure with disappointment. Results fell short of the club's relentless standards, with two consecutive trophyless seasons and rivals Barcelona winning La Liga with a 14-point margin.
The next question now is when Arbeloa's successor will be officially announced, and that process could take longer than expected. Last week, club president Florentino Perez confirmed that presidential elections would be held and he would be standing for re-election.
However, the situation has become more complicated after Spanish media reported businessman Enrique Riquelme has officially taken the first steps toward challenging Perez for the presidency. Should his candidacy be validated, Real Madrid would face its first contested presidential election in nearly two decades.
