Real Madrid: Arbeloa likely to be dismissed

Florentino Perez is the president of Real Madrid with the highest number of trophies. During his tenure, spanning two phases, the team has achieved 37 honors, among them 7 Champions League victories. This amount equates to roughly 30% of the total trophies the club has earned in its entire history.

However, that number is unlikely to increase this season. Since taking office in June 2000, this could be the fifth season the club finishes without a title. Two of those seasons occurred during his first term, and the third since he resumed the presidency in 2009.

In the 2004/05 period, the Galacticos fell into crisis after Del Bosque's era. Carlos Queiroz's arrival as head coach only brought the Super Cup, and the Portuguese manager's fate was sealed months before the season ended, following a defeat in European competition in Monaco.

In the following season, Camacho lasted only three matches in La Liga, with Garcia Remon and Luxemburgo subsequently taking turns leading the team. Real Madrid did not win any trophy and also did not come close to securing any honors.

In 2005/06, Luxemburgo, signed in Christmas 2004, remained until the same time one year later. He concluded one trophy-less season and began another that ended in a similar fashion.

In 2009/10, Perez returned with bitterness. He brought in Ronaldo, Kaka, and Benzema, along with Spanish champions Xabi Alonso, Arbeloa, and Albiol. This extraordinary gamble did not yield results. The season ended without any titles, and Pellegrini's fate was determined after a 0-4 loss to third-tier Alcorcon in the Copa del Rey.

The 2020/21 season was a trophy-less campaign under Perez's return as the Covid pandemic struck, and Real finished that year without any titles. They fought fiercely for the La Liga championship until the final round, but Atletico Madrid did not falter at Valladolid. In the Champions League, they lost in the semifinals to Chelsea, and in the Copa del Rey, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals at home, losing 3-4 to Real Sociedad.

But a persistent issue simmered within the team: the contract renewal of captain Sergio Ramos stalled. So much that on June 17, amid the ongoing EURO where he was excluded, the Real captain announced his departure from the club. Earlier, on May 31, Zidane declared once again his resignation as Real Madrid's coach. And he gave a reason: Lack of trust from the club. A very strange situation at that time.

Zidane returned to rebuild Ancelotti's squad, and the Italian strategist came back to the Bernabeu once more to do the same. Real immediately won two La Liga titles (2022 and 2024) and two Champions League trophies in those seasons.

But last season, with the arrival of a new "supernova" Kylian Mbappe, the Galaxy only secured the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup. A minor consolation prize. Immediately, the Italian strategist was dismissed.

Xabi Alonso was recruited, but the club's leadership did not truly trust the former club legend, leaving Xabi in an uneven battle with Vinicius and quickly departing. Arbeloa arrived, and unless a miracle occurs in La Liga, the 2025/26 season will conclude with nothing to celebrate for Real.

Now, the club's leadership is considering options for the head coach position, as it seems Arbeloa is unlikely to receive any "opportunity" like Luxemburgo, finishing one trophy-less season and opening another trophy-less campaign.