Fulham have appointed former Real Madrid and Spain defender Alvaro Arbeloa as their new head coach.
Arbeloa takes charge of a squad that includes Nigeria internationals Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi. In pre-season, Arbeloa has publicly praised Bassey, who has featured wearing the captain's armband for Fulham.
In comments highlighted by the club, Arbeloa said: “Calvin is a proper player. He has everything. He's a really funny guy, but when we have to work, he's the first one. I really love Calvin. He can be our leader.” The defender has established himself as a dependable presence at the heart of Fulham's defence in recent seasons.
Fulham said Arbeloa called it a real honour to begin a new stage at the oldest club in London and that he looks forward to experiencing the atmosphere at Craven Cottage. Owner Shahid Khan said the club's squad and fans will resonate with the appointment.
Fulham finished 11th last season and will begin the 2026/27 campaign under Arbeloa, who is tasked with pushing the west London side forward in his first managerial role outside Spain.