Bundesliga leaders reportedly rejected Arbeloa

arbeloa

Real Madrid's outgoing interim manager, Álvaro Arbeloa (43), has reportedly offered his services to Bayer Leverkusen – only to be turned down by the club.

Sport Bild reports that the Spaniard has, through his management, actively applied for the coaching position at the 2024 double winners. Arbeloa is looking to move abroad this summer.

However, Leverkusen's response to his approach was not encouraging for the former Spanish international. Although the club holds Arbeloa in high regard and scouted him during his stint as a youth coach at Real Madrid, their overall impression was not strong enough to entrust him with the first team at this stage.

Bayer's hierarchy is quoted as saying they lack "the conviction that Arbeloa has progressed far enough in his development as a coach to be able to lead the Leverkusen team straight back to the top".

Bayer 04 Leverkusen v 1. FSV Mainz 05 - Bundesliga

Bayer Leverkusen's search for a new manager is proving to be a bumpy ride.

Arbeloa took charge of Real's first team in January after the club sacked former Bayer champion-maker Xabi Alonso. Even the former right-back could not prevent a second straight campaign without silverware. Shortly before the season's end he confirmed he would not remain as head coach; Real has already named José Mourinho (63, Benfica) as his successor.

After 20 years in various roles at the club, he now wants to work abroad, according to Sport Bild.

That move could have taken him to Leverkusen, where current coach Kasper Hjulmand (54) now looks set to be sacked despite holding a contract until 2027, after the club missed out on Champions League qualification. However, the search for his successor has hit a snag for sporting directors Fernando Caro (61) and Simon Rolfes (44).

Their first choice was fellow Spaniard Andoni Iraola (43), who is leaving AFC Bournemouth after three successful years. However, Liverpool's weekend sacking of Arne Slot suddenly made Iraola the Reds' top target. An agreement is now reportedly in place, with an official announcement expected soon.

That pursuit, along with Filipe Luis's lack of a UEFA Pro Licence—meaning Monaco would face a €25,000-per-game fine without special dispensation—saw the former Atlético defender choose AS Monaco instead. 

Oliver Glasner (51, leaving Crystal Palace) is said to prefer talks with AC Milan over a Bundesliga return, while Michel (50) will move from Girona to Ajax Amsterdam.

The ongoing uncertainty over the manager is complicating negotiations to sign Kennet Eichhorn.

Carro and Rolfes are under pressure to act, as they aim to announce the new head coach for the coming season before the end of the week. The chase to sign Hertha BSC prodigy Kennet Eichhorn only ramps up the urgency. Several clubs are competing for the 16-year-old's signature.

According to kicker, Bayer still has "a good chance of signing Eichhorn", but those chances are slipping while the coaching role remains open. The 16-year-old has made it clear that he will not commit to a club until its head-coach situation is resolved, making this a "deal-breaker".

arbeloa

Álvaro Arbeloa's record as Real Madrid's head coach: