Arbeloa’s announcement will come as no surprise to Real Madrid fans. With Jose Mourinho emerging as the frontrunner to succeed the Spaniard, Saturday’s home game against Athletic Club is set to be Arbeloa’s final match in charge after just five months in the role.
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.
Arbeloa’s deep ties to Madrid and his passion for the badge were never questioned, and some would say stepping into the position midway through the season was an impossible task. However, the inconsistency in results, the lack of silverware, dressing-room tensions and the pressure of competing at a club where success is demanded immediately meant his time on the bench was always likely to be brief.
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.
Riquelme must meet certain requirements needed to challenge Perez and will need to formalise his candidacy by Saturday, the day of their final game of the season. A confirmed election process would likely put Perez’s plans to bring Mourinho back on hold until a vote date is decided.
