Fulham Football Club has appointed former Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa as their new head coach, the club announced on Wednesday. The club finished eleventh in the English Premier League last season.

The 43-year-old former defender, who was part of Spain's 2010 World Cup-winning squad, signed a three-year contract.

"The club is delighted to announce the appointment of Alvaro Arbeloa as Fulham's new head coach," Fulham said in a statement.

Successful playing career

Arbeloa enjoyed a highly successful playing career with Real Madrid, winning the Champions League twice. However, his time managing the Spanish giants was less successful when he replaced Xabi Alonso in January of this year.

Arbeloa, who previously played in the Premier League with Liverpool, succeeds Portuguese coach Marco Silva, who resigned at the end of last season after leading the team to an eleventh-place finish. Silva is currently managing Benfica in Portugal.

Silva filled the void left by his compatriot José Mourinho, who returned to Real Madrid, and whom Arbeloa had previously stated he would not work under.