Zidane’s Advice to Arbeloa
Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane may have offered the perfect blueprint to guide Álvaro Arbeloa as he prepares to succeed Xabi Alonso at the Santiago Bernabéu, with striking parallels emerging between the club’s current situation and Zidane’s own appointment in 2016.
Arbeloa’s promotion to head coach has inevitably drawn comparisons with January 2016, when Zidane took over from Rafael Benítez and immediately transformed Real Madrid’s fortunes. The discussion has gained fresh relevance following the release of a recent YouTube interview in which Zidane revisited the core principles that allowed him to take control of the dressing room and build a historic dynasty.
In the interview, Zidane stressed that success at Real Madrid starts with a simple but decisive philosophy: the coach must place himself at the service of the players.
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According to the French icon, tactical ideas alone are meaningless if players do not feel supported, respected, and fully invested in the project.
Zidane explained that his early success was built on trust, enjoyment, and hard work, rather than rigid tactical dominance. He first secured the backing of the squad’s senior figures before implementing demanding, ball-focused training sessions that restored confidence and unity.
Those lessons resonate strongly with Real Madrid’s current reality. The club has recently shown signs of:
- physical inconsistency
- dressing-room fragility
- visible tension during matches
These are issues similar to those Zidane faced before guiding Madrid to an era of unprecedented success, including multiple Champions League titles.
The decision by Florentino Pérez to appoint Arbeloa mirrors the logic behind Zidane’s rise — choosing a figure close to the players, deeply familiar with the club’s culture, and capable of rebuilding harmony from within.
The key question now is whether Álvaro Arbeloa can apply Zidane’s blueprint effectively. Recreating unity, earning the trust of senior players, and restoring joy in performance will be critical if he is to stabilize the squad and succeed at the highest level.
While Arbeloa lacks Zidane’s managerial track record, the path forward is clearly defined. If he embraces the principles that once transformed Real Madrid — player-first leadership, discipline balanced with freedom, and collective belief — Zidane’s advice could yet prove decisive in saving his tenure.
As Real Madrid enter a new chapter, the past may once again hold the answers to the future.
