Real Madrid Appoints Álvaro Arbeloa As First-Team Manager After Success With Youth Teams

Real Madrid has named former defender and Castilla coach Álvaro Arbeloa as the club’s new first-team manager, the club confirmed in an official statement. The 43-year-old, a lifelong Madridista, moves up after six years of coaching within Real Madrid’s youth academy and reserve setup, making his appointment a major internal promotion. According to the club, “Álvaro Arbeloa will be the new first-team coach. He has been in charge of Castilla since June 2025 and has spent his entire coaching career in our youth academy since 2020. He led the Under-14s A to a league title in 2020–2021, coached the Under-16s in 2021–2022, and the Under-19s from 2022 to 2025. With the Under-19s, he won a treble in 2022–2023 (League, Copa del Rey, and UEFA Youth League) and another league title in 2024–2025.” Arbeloa enjoyed a distinguished playing career at Real Madrid from 2009 to 2016, making 238 appearances and winning eight major trophies, including two Champions League titles, one La Liga crown, two Copa del Rey trophies, one Club World Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, and one Spanish Super Cup. He was also part of Spain’s golden generation, lifting the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships. The appointment follows the mutual departure of Xabi Alonso as first-team coach earlier this month. Sources say Arbeloa’s promotion is aimed at maintaining continuity, prioritizing youth development, and leveraging his deep knowledge of the club during this transitional period. During his playing days, Arbeloa was known for his versatility, tactical intelligence, and reliability as a full-back. He played a key role during the shift from the Galácticos era to the Cristiano Ronaldo-led dominance, contributing to multiple domestic and European titles. Arbeloa began his coaching career immediately after retiring in 2017, joining Real Madrid’s academy in 2020. He quickly gained a reputation for nurturing talent and implementing possession-based, structured football. His greatest success came with the Juvenil A (Under-19) team, securing a historic treble in 2022–2023 and a league title in 2024–2025. After stepping up to Castilla in June 2025, he guided the reserve team to a mid-table finish in the Primera Federación while integrating several academy graduates into the first-team squad. Club president Florentino Pérez is said to have personally backed Arbeloa’s promotion, seeing him as the ideal link between Real Madrid’s youth system and the senior team.

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Arsenal To Host Wigan As Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City Draw Revealed In FA Cup Fourth Round

Arsenal, who currently top the Premier League, will take on League One side and former FA Cup winners Wigan Athletic in the fourth round of the competition. The Gunners booked their spot after a 4-1 comeback victory over Portsmouth on Sunday, with Gabriel Martinelli netting a hat-trick. Chelsea will face Hull City on the road following their win against Charlton Athletic in Liam Rosenior’s first game as the Blues’ manager. Liverpool, if they get past League One side Barnsley, will host Brighton at Anfield. Brighton famously knocked out Manchester United in the third round. Aston Villa and Newcastle are set for a Premier League showdown at Villa Park, promising a thrilling clash in the fourth round. Manchester City will enjoy another home tie, facing either League Two’s Salford City or Swindon Town after their dominant 10-1 victory over League One Exeter City. Other notable ties include Stoke City vs Fulham, Southampton vs Leicester, and Birmingham City vs Leeds United. Full FA Cup fourth-round draw: Liverpool or Barnsley vs Brighton Stoke City vs Fulham Oxford United vs Sunderland Southampton vs Leicester Wrexham vs Ipswich Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic Hull City vs Chelsea Burton Albion vs West Ham Burnley vs Mansfield Town Norwich City vs West Brom Port Vale vs Bristol City Grimsby Town vs Wolves Aston Villa vs Newcastle Manchester City vs Salford or Swindon Macclesfield vs Brentford Birmingham City vs Leeds United

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Old Video Of Carter Efe Warning Baby Mama Over TikTok Dance Surfaces Online

An old video of Nigerian content creator Carter Efe addressing his baby mama has recently resurfaced online, drawing fresh attention to their past relationship. In the clip, Carter Efe confronts his partner, raising his voice and suddenly shouting “YOU!”, which visibly startled her. He then delivered a firm warning, saying: “Let me warn you for the last time. The day you shake your bumbum on TikTok is the day you are going to Shoba — you are going home.” The video has sparked reactions across social media, with many questioning the tone and intensity of his message. The resurfacing comes amid ongoing discussions about Carter Efe and his baby mama, Emmanuella, who recently spoke out about their past. She accused him of emotional manipulation and control during their time together and disputed his claims of being single for over a year, revealing they had been involved shortly before his public statements. The clip has reignited debates among fans, highlighting how personal disputes can quickly play out in the public eye, leaving viewers divided over Carter Efe’s behavior and approach in the video. A previously unseen video of Carter Efe and his baby mama resurfaces as tensions continue between them pic.twitter.com/Oks0NX7iyV — TRENCH STAR (@TRENCH_STAR_) January 12, 2026

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Ninety-Five Princes and Princesses Declare Interest In Awujale Stool Of Ijebuland

A total of ninety-five princes and princesses from the Fusengbuwa Ruling House have expressed interest in ascending to the stool of Awujale of Ijebuland. The Olori Ebi of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Otunba Jadiara Lateef Owoyemi, made the disclosure during the commencement of the nomination meeting held at Bisi Rodipe Hall, GRA, Ijebu Ode. Other key members of the ruling house present at the meeting included the Deputy Olori Ebi, Otunba Ajidagba, and the Chairman, Chief Fassy Yusuf, among others. Otunba Owoyemi, a former ICAN President, explained that the names of candidates who successfully cleared the initial screening would be forwarded to the Afobajes. The Afobajes are then responsible for selecting one candidate to become the next Awujale and submitting the choice to the Ogun State Government for approval. He further advised that anyone with objections or grievances regarding the process should direct them to the government through the proper channels.

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BREAKING: Real Madrid Sack Xabi Alonso After Super Cup Loss To Barcelona

Real Madrid have officially ended their association with head coach Xabi Alonso, just hours after the club’s dramatic three–two defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final played in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The club confirmed that the decision was reached by mutual agreement, bringing an abrupt end to the forty-four-year-old’s short spell in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu. The timing of the exit, coming less than a day after the painful loss to their fiercest rivals, has fueled speculation about mounting internal pressure within the club. Alonso, who returned to Madrid last summer from Bayer Leverkusen, endured a difficult and turbulent tenure. Reports of dressing-room unrest had followed him in recent weeks, with claims that he was struggling to retain the full support of the squad. The Super Cup defeat, which saw Madrid surrender late against Barcelona, appeared to be the final straw. In an official statement, the club said, “Real Madrid CF announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to end his time as first team coach.” Despite the sudden nature of the decision, Real Madrid paid glowing tribute to the former midfielder, adding, “Xabi Alonso will always have the affection and admiration of all Madrid fans because he is a Real Madrid legend and has always represented the values of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home.” The statement also acknowledged the efforts of Alonso’s backroom staff, saying, “Our club thanks Xabi Alonso and his entire technical team for their work and dedication during this time, and wishes them the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.” While the club maintained a cordial tone, the swift move has left supporters stunned. With crucial fixtures ahead in both La Liga and the Champions League, attention now turns to how Real Madrid will steady the ship following Alonso’s sudden departure.

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JUST IN: Segun Oni Defects to APC

Former Ekiti State Governor Olusegun Oni has officially dumped the Social Democratic Party for the ruling All Progressives Congress, completing his registration at his country home in Ifaki Ekiti. Confirming the development, the Coordinator of the APC e-registration exercise in Ekiti State and Commissioner for Youth Development, Adesola Adedayo, described Oni’s defection as a major gain for the party. He said the former governor’s decision to formally register with the APC had given a strong push to the ongoing registration exercise across the state. “We registered former Governor Segun Oni as a member of our great party. This significant political move will help the ongoing online registration of our members in Ekiti,” Adedayo said. He further praised Oni as “a resourceful and popular leader who will add tremendous value to the party and strengthen its winning streak,” noting that his move marked “a seismic shift in the political realignment ahead of the Ekiti governorship poll and the general elections.” Speaking on Oni’s grassroots influence, the commissioner said, “When it comes to grassroots politics, former Governor Oni is a respected individual. He is well-loved at the grassroots, and the intention of our registration is to attract more people into the APC. Having an individual like the former governor with us at this crucial time is a big plus.” Adedayo also cautioned party leaders against complacency, stressing that sustained mobilisation was key to strengthening the APC’s numerical strength at the grassroots. He added that Oni’s registration came shortly after Governor Biodun Oyebanji revalidated his membership, urging party faithful across the state “to embark on aggressive mobilisation drives to fortify the APC at the local level.” “This exercise is very important as it will strengthen our party’s structures and ensure proper documentation of members at the grassroots,” he said, adding that the e-registration process was crucial to the party’s electoral success and the governor’s re-election bid.

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Billionaire Daughter Sharon Adeleke Opens Up About Struggling With Success Despite Wealth

Billionaire daughter Sharon Adeleke has shared an honest reflection on her struggles with success, wealth, and self-doubt. In a recent post, she revealed that despite having access to opportunities, networks, and funding most people can only dream of, she often felt frustrated that success didn’t come as easily as she expected. She admitted to comparing herself to entrepreneurs who started with just a few thousand dollars and went on to build million-dollar companies, while she, with far greater resources, sometimes felt stuck. Sharon explained that a conversation with her therapist helped her gain clarity. Her therapist reminded her that “you don’t know what you don’t know,” pointing out that she lacked certain lessons, insights, and experiences that money alone couldn’t provide. The advice helped her see that growth and success take more than resources—they also require time, learning, and self-discovery.   View this post on Instagram  

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Seun Kuti and DJ Tunez Hug It Out At Lagos Club After Online Feud Over Wizkid Comparisons

Seun Kuti and Wizkid’s aide, DJ Tunez, turned a heated online debate into a moment of camaraderie when they were recently spotted at a Lagos club. The tension began after Seun publicly criticized Wizkid’s fans for comparing the singer to his late father, Fela Anikulapo‑Kuti. DJ Tunez responded with humor, suggesting that if Wizkid couldn’t be compared to Fela, he should be likened to Michael Jackson instead. The club encounter started casually, with the two spotting each other across the venue. Instead of ignoring the past exchange, they approached one another, shared smiles, and embraced in a warm hug. The gesture, which lasted several moments, appeared heartfelt and immediately drew the attention of onlookers, many of whom captured and shared the moment on social media. The hug seemed to symbolize more than a simple greeting—it was a public display of respect and reconciliation. Witnesses reported that the pair chatted and laughed after the embrace, showing that any tension from the online debate had dissipated. Fans praised the scene, saying it demonstrated professionalism and the ability to rise above conflicts. By hugging it out, Seun Kuti and DJ Tunez sent a clear message: disagreements over artists and comparisons can exist without personal animosity, and even in a competitive music industry, respect and unity can still shine through.   View this post on Instagram  

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