{
  "id": 2967617,
  "title": "Arbeloa v Alonso: Benitez on his former players turned managers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/arbeloa-v-alonso-benitez-on-his-former-players-turned-managers",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-24T06:59:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC Sport",
    "slug": "bbc-sport",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ckge725zy1zo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has shared his thoughts on his former players Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa, who have since become managers. Benitez revealed that while he expected Alonso to become a manager, Arbeloa was a surprise to him. Alonso and Arbeloa, who played together for seven years at club level and shared the pitch 262 times, will face each other in a match between Alonso's Chelsea and Arbeloa's Fulham on Monday. Benitez noted that Arbeloa, who was promoted from Real Madrid B to replace Alonso at Real Madrid, knows the Premier League better than Alonso, who has slightly more experience in the league. Despite being good friends off the pitch, the pair are rivals when playing. Benitez emphasized that their friendship will never change. Alonso had coaching experience in the Bundesliga at Bayer Leverkusen and at Bayern Munich under Pep Guardiola, which contributed to his vision and understanding of the game. Benitez also highlighted the impact Alonso had in a 2009 game against Blackburn, where he made a strategic decision that led to Liverpool's victory. Benitez noted that many of his former Liverpool players have gone on to become managers, including Craig Bellamy, and that they all take something from their time with him as a coach.",
  "summary": "Rafael Benitez, former Liverpool manager, commented on his former players Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa, who are now managers and will face each other when Fulham hosts Chelsea on Monday. According to Benitez, he expected Alonso to become a manager but was surprised when Arbeloa did.\n\nThe two played together for seven years at club level, sharing the pitch 262 times for club and country, and won three major trophies with Spain. They also had domestic league and cup triumphs when they joined Real Madrid after Liverpool. Arbeloa was promoted from Real Madrid B to replace Alonso after he was sacked by the Spanish giants in January last season.\n\nBenitez noted that Alonso has more experience than Arbeloa, with the latter's experience being shorter. Both managers returned to England in July to take up their first Premier League managerial roles, leading clubs whose stadiums are only two miles apart.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport Football",
        "title": "Arbeloa v Alonso: Benitez on his former players turned managers",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/arbeloa-v-alonso-benitez-on-his-former-players-turned-managers-2967652",
        "published": "2026-08-24T06:59:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Arbeloa v Alonso: Benitez on his former players turned managers",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/arbeloa-v-alonso-benitez-on-his-former-players-turned-managers-2967795",
        "published": "2026-08-24T07:01:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}