🔻Xabi Alonso and Mikel Arteta, who were friends and rivals since childhood, have now, after nearly four decades, faced each other on the field as head coaches of Chelsea and Arsenal in the English Premier League.

🔹According to the English media outlet The Athletic, both coaches—along with Andoni Iraola, the head coach of Liverpool—grew up in the city of San Sebastián and at the Antiguoko club; an event that is noteworthy and has turned this city into one of the key hubs for developing football coaches. Martín Zubimendi and Aritz Aduriz are also among the other prominent figures who have grown up at this club.

🔹The coaches of Antiguoko believe that a culture of competition, sacrifice, honesty, and the deep passion of the people of the Basque region for sport played an important role in shaping this generation of coaches. Roberto Montil, who coached all three of these coaches during their teenage years, says that their football and personal characteristics were already visible from childhood; from Alonso’s powerful shots and Arteta’s wide vision, to Iraola’s ability to keep possession.

🔹Alonso and Arteta grew up in the Antiguo neighborhood and spent much of their childhood by the beach and on football pitches. Besides football, they also did surfing, skateboarding, and tennis.

🔹Read the full details of this report on the website.