The gaffer who beat Arbeloa's Castilla reveals what Real Madrid can expect
Jon Erice, the last coach to defeat Álvaro Arbeloa before his shock promotion to Real Madrid's top job, shares tactical insights and a cheeky comparison to Zidane's early days.
A London-based Spanish football observer’s dream interview dropped this week as Jon Erice, the last manager to defeat Álvaro Arbeloa before his shock promotion, dished the dirt on what Los Blancos fans might expect from their new gaffer.
The man who humbled Arbeloa’s Castilla
Erice’s Arenas de Getxo side absolutely battered Castilla 4-1 last weekend, just days before Arbeloa was sensationally named as Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement at the Santiago Bernabéu. Rather than gloating, Erice provided thoughtful context about Castilla’s away form struggles this season.
“The Castilla has been very strong at Valdebebas, but away they’ve shown more weakness,” Erice explained, attributing this to the youth and inexperience of many players in the squad.
Tactical blueprint: What Real Madrid can expect
Erice offered a proper deep dive into Arbeloa’s tactical approach:
- Evolution towards positional attacking play
- Preference for lengthy possessions
- Heavy use of interior players
- Full-backs pushed very high
- Almost complete abandonment of traditional wingers
- Back-three formation to create numerical superiority near the opposition box
However, the Basque coach was quick to highlight the massive difference between Castilla’s personnel and the first team’s star-studded lineup, suggesting Arbeloa will need to adapt his approach.
Zidane comparisons and Spanish coaching pride
Erice delivered perhaps the most telling observation when discussing snap judgments about Arbeloa’s credentials: “Neither could Zidane be judged for drawing against La Roda, nor can Arbeloa be judged because Arenas beat him 4-1.”
The comparison to Zidane – who faced similar skepticism during his Castilla days before becoming a Champions League-winning manager – offers an interesting parallel that many Madridistas will cling to.
Erice also took the opportunity to big up Spanish coaching, suggesting clubs don’t always need to look abroad when there’s quality in their own backyard. With a touch of pride, he concluded his interview by suggesting he’d “passed the exam with flying colors” after competing against the man who now manages the biggest club in world football.
Not a bad week’s work for the Arenas de Getxo boss, if you ask me. From beating Arbeloa to becoming a footnote in Real Madrid history in the blink of an eye. Proper job!