He started his career withReal Madrid, playing mostly with the reserves. In 2006 he moved toDeportivo, joiningLiverpool after half a season and going on to appear in 98 official matches over threePremier League seasons. In 2009, he returned to Real Madrid for a fee of£5 million, spending seven years there and winning eight major titles, including the2011–12 edition ofLa Liga and twoChampions League titles.
On 24 July 2006, Arbeloa signed forDeportivo de La Coruña, with Real Madrid being entitled to 50% of any transfer occurring in the following three years.[8] He said of his departure: "This is a strange situation for me; I have been playing for Real Madrid for five years, since I was 16", adding "Real always has the best players. There were eight defenders in the squad, something had to give in."[9]
Over a six-month spell with the team fromGalicia, Arbeloa featured in 21 official games, 18 of his league appearances being complete.[10][11]
Arbeloa made his first start for the Reds againstBarcelona, in the2006–07 edition of theUEFA Champions League. He featured as a left-back at theCamp Nou, as his stronger right foot could stopLionel Messi who had a tendency to cut his runs towards the center of the field; his team won 2–1[15] and eventually 2–2 on aggregate, with the player also featuring the full 90 minutes atAnfield.[16]
Arbeloa's squad number changed from 2 to 17 for2007–08, due to personal preference.[19] He cemented a first-team place in that campaign, making 41 competitive appearances in a fourth-place finish.
On 17 May 2009, in a match againstWest Bromwich Albion, Arbeloa was involved in an on-field clash with teammateJamie Carragher – the two had to be separated byDaniel Agger,Xabi Alonso,Emiliano Insúa andPepe Reina. Carragher later explained that he clashed with Arbeloa as a moment of poor defending from the latter threatened the clean sheet, further explaining "we want to keep a clean sheet and we want Pepe to have a chance of theGolden Glove for the fourth season running"; Benítez refused to comment about the incident.[20]
On 29 July 2009, it was announced that Real Madrid and Liverpool had reached an agreement on the transfer of Arbeloa, for a fee of£5 million and a five-year contract.[21][22] After the departure ofMíchel Salgado andMiguel Torres, he was handed the number 2 jersey.
Arbeloa spent the vast majority of hisfirst season in his second stint as a left-back, netting his first goal on 13 February 2010 in a 3–0 away win overXerez.[23] His second came in theMadrid Derby on 28 March, scoring with his right foot pastDavid de Gea in the 3–2 defeat ofAtlético Madrid.[24] Under new managerJosé Mourinho, he celebrated his tenth appearance in the Champions League with his first goal in the competition, netting from outside the penalty area in a 4–0 victory atAjax in thegroup stage.[25]
In the2011–12 campaign, due toRicardo Carvalho's lengthy injury,Sergio Ramos was relocated to centre-back and Arbeloa began appearing almost exclusively on the right side of the back four. On 1 August 2012, he extended his link to the club until June 2016.[26][27]
Subsequently, Arbeloa became a fringe player.[28][29] In2015–16,[30] he appeared in just nine matches in all competitions, two of those being in theChampions League, which was won for the second time in three years.[31][32] On 8 May 2016, he confirmed he would leave on 30 June.[33]
Arbeloa was released at the end of the campaign after having made just four competitive appearances, three in the league.[36] He retired in June 2017 at the age of 34, after a professional career that spanned 15 years.[37]
On 1 February 2008, Arbeloa was called up to theSpanish national team for the first time, for afriendly withFrance inMálaga, but he was forced to pull out because of injury.[38] He made his debut on 26 March againstItaly,[39] and was picked forUEFA Euro 2008's final stages, appearing in the first-round match againstGreece (2–1 win)[40] as the nation emerged victorious.[41]
Arbeloa's versatility saw him being called up for the2009 FIFA Confederations Cup[42] and the2010 FIFA World Cup, again as Ramos backup. His contribution in the latter tournament, which also ended in victory,[43] consisted of 14 minutes in the 2–0 victory overHonduras in the group phase.[44]
Arbeloa returned to Real Madrid in September 2020, being appointed manager of the under-14 side.[48] Two years later, he progressed to theJuvenil A.[49]
On 28 May 2025, Arbeloa replacedRaúl at the helm of Castilla.[50][51] He was promoted to the first team on 12 January 2026, followingXabi Alonso's departure.[52][53] On his debut, they lost 3–2 at second-divisionAlbacete in theround of 16 of theCopa del Rey;[54] three days later, on his 43rd birthday, he oversaw a 2–0 win overLevante in the domestic league.[55][56]
^Carrasco, Carlos (19 February 2012)."Álvaro Arbeloa, el espartano incansable" [Álvaro Arbeloa, the tireless spartan] (in Spanish). Defensa Central. Retrieved19 June 2013.
^Artús, José Luis (17 October 2004)."Ni ambición" [No ambition].Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved19 June 2013.
^"Comunicado oficial" [Official announcement] (in Spanish). Real Madrid CF. 29 July 2009. Archived fromthe original on 1 August 2009. Retrieved19 June 2013.
^Rodríguez, José María (17 January 2026)."Güler y Mbappé apañan el papelón" [Güler and Mbappé the bacon savers].Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved17 January 2026.
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