Nearly 20 years after Rafael Benitez first brought Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa together at Anfield, the former teammates will clash as managers of London clubs: Arbeloa's Fulham takes on Alonso's Chelsea on Monday. Although just two miles separate their current teams' stadiums, their journeys to the managerial elite have been strikingly different.
When asked whether he expected to see both Spaniards in charge of top clubs, Benitez didn’t hold back:
Regarding Alonso — yes. Arbeloa — not really. Arbeloa has been a surprise for me.
Their playing careers were intertwined for many years; they shared the pitch for 262 matches across club and country, winning the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships with Spain. They also enjoyed domestic success after their joint move from Liverpool to Real Madrid. Notably, Arbeloa took charge of the Madrid giants after stepping up from the Castilla ranks last January, following Alonso's departure.
Commenting on Arbeloa's rapid ascent, Benitez highlighted the added pressures that come with certain managerial roles:
He worked with Castilla, which is similar to how I started, and then moved to the first team of Real under special circumstances. Alvaro knows the Premier League well, but his coaching experience is still less than Xabi's. We'll have to see how he copes outside of Real, which in many ways protects you. Outside its walls, you're alone with the challenges.
Despite the impending battle, the two coaches maintain a close friendship. They played under the likes of Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, and Vicente del Bosque, with their families often holidaying together. They currently live near Cobham, where their children attend the same school. Ahead of their derby clash, Arbeloa mentioned that they had spoken on the phone but deliberately avoided discussing football, affirming that their friendship would 'never change', even though they would be fierce rivals for 90 minutes.
Benitez emphasised Alonso's deep understanding of football, which was evident even during his playing days:
He has managed at a different level in a different country, winning the domestic double in the Bundesliga with Bayer in 2024. Xabi always had an incredible vision on the pitch, which his experiences at Liverpool, Real Madrid, and under Pep Guardiola at Bayern opened his mind to various coaching concepts. He was someone who constantly thought on the field.
Benitez recounted a moment from a 2009 match against Blackburn, where Alonso ignored instructions to deliver a free kick to the far post, instead playing it short to Fernando Torres, who netted a brace in their 4-0 victory.
Benitez has trained over 20 players who have since moved into coaching, including Wales boss Craig Bellamy and Seattle Sounders assistant Jimmy Traore. Fondly recalling his time with them, he noted:
They always take something from you. Perhaps two or three things they then use in their coaching practice, and I’m very happy about that.
At 66, the former Liverpool boss, who left Greek side Panathinaikos in May after achieving a top-four finish, is now on the lookout for a new challenge. Benitez continues to work as a UEFA technical observer, actively employing artificial intelligence and complex data analysis, and is prepared to manage either a national team or a club with ambitious plans:
I’ve had offers. It may be a national team since many managers will be changing after the World Cup, but it must be a place where something can be achieved — like our rise to the elite with Newcastle and those remarkable fans. Modern football is much more demanding. You need to be patient because if you give in to the pressure from social media and change managers every seven months, there can be no talk of a long-term project. That’s the main challenge right now.
