As Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea prepare to face Alvaro Arbeloa’s Fulham in a Premier League clash, their former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has offered his insights into the burgeoning managerial careers of his two proteges.
According to BBC, the Monday fixture marks a significant moment, with Alonso and Arbeloa going head-to-head for the first time as top-flight managers. It’s a reunion nearly two decades in the making since Benitez first brought them together at Anfield, signing Alonso in 2004 and Arbeloa in 2007 from Deportivo.
Benitez’s view on his former players
Benitez, who has coached for over 40 years, expressed varying levels of surprise at their paths into management. “Alonso, yes. Arbeloa, not really. For me, Arbeloa was a surprise,” Benitez told BBC Sport, highlighting his expectations for Alonso’s transition.
The Spaniard elaborated on the differences in their managerial experience. “With Alvaro, he knows the Premier League. But his experience is shorter than Xabi’s. We need to know how he can cope outside Real Madrid, which protects you in a way. Outside, you are on your own,” Benitez noted, acknowledging the unique pressures of managing away from a club like Real Madrid.
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Alonso, in contrast, has already tasted significant success, guiding Bayer Leverkusen to a Bundesliga league and cup double in 2024. He also boasts a playing career under tactical giants like Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola, and Vicente del Bosque, experiences that undoubtedly shaped his coaching philosophy.
A shared history and burgeoning careers
Alonso and Arbeloa share a deep history, having played together for seven years at club level and sharing the pitch 262 times for club and country. Their bond extends beyond football; they are described as “very good friends,” socialising off the pitch and even holidaying together. Now, they live close to each other in Cobham, Surrey, with their children attending the same school.
Their playing careers saw them achieve immense success, including winning the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships with Spain. Both also moved to Real Madrid after their time at Liverpool, securing domestic league and cup triumphs.
Their managerial journeys have seen them both return to England in July for their first Premier League roles. Arbeloa was promoted from Real Madrid B (Castilla) to take over Fulham after Alonso was sacked by the Spanish giants last season. The upcoming match will see their clubs, whose stadiums are only two miles apart, battle for crucial Premier League points.
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The demands of modern management
Benitez, 66, currently without a job after leaving Panathinaikos, remains a Uefa technical observer and is actively adapting to the modern game, utilising social media, artificial intelligence, and sophisticated data. He takes pride in the number of his former players who have followed him into coaching, with over 20 Liverpool alumni, including Wales boss Craig Bellamy and Seattle Sounders assistant coach Djimi Traore, now in managerial or coaching roles.
“They always take something from you. Maybe two or three things they can use [as a coach], and I’m happy with that,” Benitez shared. However, he also acknowledged the increasing pressures of the job. “I know football now is more demanding. You have to be patient because, if not, if you change with the pressure of social media and change every seven months, then you don’t have any project. That is the difficult thing,” he reflected.
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