Álvaro Arbeloa is one of the most iconic figures in the recent history of Real Madrid. With a career full of success, both at club level and with the Spanish national team, his legacy on and off the field is unquestionable.
However, Álvaro Arbeloa hasn't only been recognized for his soccer quality, but also for his character and dedication. As coach of Real Madrid's Under-19s, Arbeloa continues his path in soccer, facing both professional and personal challenges.
The Leap to Managing
After hanging up his cleats in 2016, Arbeloa decided to continue his involvement in soccer from a different perspective.
In 2020, Arbeloa took charge of Real Madrid's Under-19s, a team with great tradition and promising stars. Arbeloa's leap from player to coach was a natural change, as he always showed a great passion for the game and developing future soccer stars.
As a coach, Arbeloa has taken on a demanding task. He must not only pass down his technical knowledge but also instil the values that he so defended as a player. La Fábrica, Real Madrid's youth academy, demands discipline, effort and high competitiveness, qualities that Arbeloa applies successfully.
The Unexpected Injury of the Jewel of La Fábrica
Marc Cucalón, one of Real Madrid's most promising youngsters, has been forced to retire from soccer at the age of 19. The decision follows a serious injury in 2022, when an opponent broke his knee in Youth League. The initial injury was a torn cruciate ligament. However, this was complicated further by a bacteria that attacked the cartilage in his right knee. This has ended his sporting career prematurely.
Cucalón joined Real Madrid in 2016, with big dreams and the hope of reaching the first team. On September 6, 2022, everything changed, beginning a physical and mental struggle that ended up marking the end of his professional career.
Arbeloa's Support
The support of his teammates and coaches has been fundamental in these years of suffering. Álvaro Arbeloa was his coach in the youth team and closely follows the development of all youth players. He's also shown his support for Cucalón.
Arbeloa, visibly affected by the news, said: "You don't know how many times that game comes to my mind. It's hard for me not to think about what a great player you were going to be, but you always have to look forward." Arbeloa highlighted the human quality of Marc, a youngster who had already shown great maturity on and off the field.