Fulham’s hierarchy have handed manager Álvaro Arbeloa a final chance to turn the team’s fortunes around, designating the next two matches as a decisive window to determine whether he remains in charge or faces dismissal following a disastrous start to the Premier League campaign.
According to British newspaper The Sun, Arbeloa is required to secure convincing results against Hull City and Coventry City, with the board unwilling to wait much longer if the team remains incapable of registering their first win of the season.
Fulham are set to host Hull City at Craven Cottage before traveling to face Coventry City—two fixtures against newly promoted sides. The newspaper reported that slipping up in these games, particularly suffering defeats, could prompt the club to cut short the Spanish manager’s tenure.
The crisis escalated following a 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town, despite Fulham leading through Ryan Sessegnon until the dying minutes. However, the team conceded an equalizer in the 89th minute before their resistance collapsed with a second goal conceded deep into stoppage time.
Fulham sit at the bottom of the Premier League table with just two points from their opening six matches, having drawn twice and lost four, remaining the sole side yet to taste victory since the competition began.
Despite his perilous position, Arbeloa refused to surrender to the mounting pressure, stating after the latest defeat: “I never worry about my job, and I don’t feel fear. No one can be a manager if they are afraid.”
The Spanish coach added that he sees positive aspects in his players’ performances but acknowledged the team’s urgent need to accumulate points, emphasizing that Fulham’s future matters far more to him than discussing his personal standing.
Fulham took a gamble on Arbeloa last July, handing him a contract until the summer of 2029 despite his limited senior managerial experience. He began his career within Real Madrid’s academy, guiding the youth side to a domestic treble in the 2022–23 season, before briefly managing Castilla prior to his promotion to the first team in January 2026.
His stint with Real Madrid’s senior side ended after roughly five months without silverware, prompting his direct move to the Premier League. Now, his English adventure could end just as quickly unless Fulham provide the board with a reason to hold off on the sack during their clashes with Hull City and Coventry.
