Álvaro Arbeloa returned to the Premier League as Fulham manager last summer, having been appointed to the position on July 7. However, after the first five rounds of the championship, the Craven Cottage team is in the last position of the table, with just two points, the result of two draws and four defeats without achieving a victory. The situation has become critical and his future at the club seems to be at risk.
Fulham is one point away from the threshold of salvation, the mark maintained by Bournemouth. If the team fails to improve its performance in the next matches, Arbeloa's continuity could be compromised. The English media indicate that the coach could face the pressure of the next two games: on Saturday against Hull, which occupies eighth place, and on October 24 against Coventry, which is second to last with one point more than Fulham. Although the season has barely started, two negative results could cost the former Real Madrid player his permanence.
In the last match, Fulham lost 2‑1 against Ipswich Town. After the defeat, Arbeloa showed a defiant attitude before the media, declaring: “Maybe you don't know me, but I have played and coached the best team in the world.” This comment reflects his confidence in his experience, although the reality of the club's performance does not support it.
Arbeloa has a career as a footballer in the Premier League, having played for Liverpool between 2007 and 2009, before signing for Real Madrid, and for West Ham between 2016 and 2017. His coaching career began at Real Madrid, where he worked at the grassroots level and reached the first team, replacing Xabi Alonso on January 13 and remaining until the end of the season. Since then, he has tried to transfer his experience to the world of football in the Premier League.
The future of the Fulham coach will depend on the results in the next matches. If they manage to avoid another defeat and get at least one point, they could consolidate their position and give the team a boost. If not, the club management could look for an alternative before the season progresses too far. The upcoming game against Hull will be decisive in determining whether Arbeloa can save his contract or whether Fulham will have to make a decision before the campaign escalates.