Alvaro Arbeloa nears Fulham job as Jorge Mendes orchestrates managerial swaps
Alvaro Arbeloa is close to becoming the new Fulham manager, completing a remarkable coaching triangle orchestrated by super-agent Jorge Mendes that sees Marco Silva join Benfica and Jose Mourinho return to Real Madrid.
The domino effect began when Real Madrid president Florentino Perez elected to reappoint Mourinho to the Santiago Bernabeu.
That high-profile move abruptly ended Arbeloa’s tenure as interim boss in the Spanish capital and left Benfica searching for a replacement.
Silva subsequently emerged as the primary target for the Portuguese club.
Benfica secured their man despite the Cottagers offering a record contract to retain their head coach of five years.
Mendes orchestrates high-profile moves
Mendes successfully brokered the complex deals for both Silva and Mourinho.
The 60-year-old agent then reportedly recommended the former Liverpool and West Ham defender to the west London club.
Arbeloa is officially represented by Best of You agent Oscar Ribot, but his switch to the Premier League is now highly advanced and expected to be finalised soon.
This sequence of events highlights how the Portuguese super-agent has become a specialist in major coaching appointments.
Premier League managerial upheaval
The influential representative has also been heavily involved in Enzo Maresca’s imminent transfer to Manchester City.
Another client, Gil Vicente boss Cesar Peixoto, is expected to replace Rob Edwards at Wolves due to Mendes’ close ties with Molineux owners Fosun.
A staggering 10 Premier League clubs will begin the new campaign with a recently appointed head coach.
This unprecedented turnover demonstrates a truly chaotic period across the English top flight.
Familiar faces reunite in England
The 41-year-old Spaniard is well known to English supporters following an impressive two-year playing spell at Anfield.
He later secured two European Championships and a World Cup during a golden era for his national team.
The prospective Fulham boss will now face off against former teammate Xabi Alonso in the dugout.
The pair spent seven consecutive years together at club level and shared an immensely successful international career.
