Arbeloa v Alonso: Benitez on his former players turned managers

What the report says

Rafael Benitez has reflected on two of his former Liverpool players, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa, as they prepare to face each other in the Premier League as managers. BBC Sport reported that Arbeloa’s Fulham are due to host Alonso’s Chelsea on Monday, in a meeting that brings together two men whose careers have remained closely linked since their playing days at Anfield and later at Real Madrid.

Benitez said Alonso’s move into coaching was expected, while Arbeloa’s path into management was more of a surprise. Both men returned to England in July for their first Premier League managerial jobs and now work at clubs based only a short distance apart in west London. The article noted that they were teammates for club and country, won major honours together with Spain, and have stayed close friends despite their new rivalry.

The report also highlighted Benitez’s view that Alonso’s experience in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen, where he won a league and cup double in 2024, has helped prepare him for management. He described Alonso as a thoughtful player with strong tactical vision, while saying Arbeloa will need to prove himself away from the protective environment of Real Madrid. Benitez also used the interview to discuss several other former players who have gone into coaching, underlining his long-lasting influence on the next generation of managers.