How Xabi Alonso and Mikel Arteta have taken their football battles from the beach to the Premier League ahead of clash

XABI ALONSO and Mikel Arteta take their near four-decade tussle from the beach to the Premier League. The two childhood friends have gone from trying to outwit one another on La Concha Bay, at the heart of Spain‘s managerial factory, to potentially fighting for the title this term. Mikel Arteta won his first league title as manager last season Credit: Getty Arteta will come up against Xabi Alonso this weekend Credit: Alamy The two managers were childhood friends Credit: Refer to Caption They used to be rivals at Liverpool and Everton Credit: Alamy But the two may also have to consider Andoni Iraola, another star out of San Sebastian, butting in now he is at Liverpool. Their home town counts the same number of managers in the Premier League as English football. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! From the beach and gravel pitches of Berio, where all three represented the youth club Antiguoko, the trio are now facing off at the top of the footballing pyramid. They all grew up in and were shaped by San Sebastian, a city around the size of Reading – though all comparisons end there. Unai Emery, Aston Villa‘s Europa League winning icon, is from just along the coast in Hondarribia, part of the same Gipuzkoa region, an area in the Basque Country smaller than Leicestershire. San Sebastian already has a stellar culinary reputation, but they are now world leaders for cooking up coaches. There are many theories as to the magic behind their impressive record – with one local even putting it down to the famous Basque cheesecake. Manu Diaz, President of the Gipuzkoa Football Federation, told SunSport: “It is really difficult to say, because there is not something romantic.” The locals may not see romance in their story or success, but for an outsider visiting there is plenty. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS That three elite managers emerged not only from one city, but one youth team is remarkable. Antiguoko have developed a monopoly over the best talent in San Sebastian. Because of that, they are not as popular with all locals as you would think, but getting in the door can be a golden ticket. One former team-mate describes signing for them as like joining Real Madrid, a team they beat during the era of the trio now in the Premier League. Martin Zubimendi also came through their ranks, as did former Spain striker Aritz Aduriz. Roberto Montiel, who coached all three of Alonso, Arteta and Iraola, is always proud to show off the collection of memorabilia from their alumni. There are signed shirts from everyone who has gone on to make it in their small clubhouse in the city, as well as a signed ball and boots from Alonso, both used in the 2005 Champions League final and a packed trophy cabinet – stuffed with silverware won across Europe – and even Mexico. Montiel, who still has regular contact with the trio, told SunSport: “We are so proud, there are three English coaches and there are three from Antiguoko and San Sebastian. It is a pleasure and a pride for us. “Our society is very competitive and we teach the values of competition, sacrifice and honesty. We teach them to compete at the highest level from a young age. “More than Basque, Gipuzkoa is different. There is a culture here that is very attached to sport and competitiveness.” Andoni Iraola made his name in England with Bournemouth Credit: Getty He is now the manager Liverpool Credit: Getty Andoni Iraola (in blue) played with Arteta (in red) through multiple youth teams Credit: handout They played together in the Basque Country Credit: handout Montiel remembers all three showing early promise, with Alonso already having his famed rocket of a long-shot as a tiny nine-year-old player, Arteta showing immense vision and once having to cancel a drill in which three players tried to take the ball from Iraola as they simply could not get close. Their managerial characteristics have always been there too. While Montiel was not the inspiration for some of Arteta’s wacky methods, such as brandishing a light-bulb during a team talk, the intensity of the Gunners boss has always been clear to see. Montiel added: “Arteta is obsessed with improving, improving. Andoni is more human. “Andoni is not like Arteta. He was a shy kid. He is not as demanding or studios as Arteta or someone like Guardiola. “He told me a while ago he would quit after Bournemouth, and now I say to him, ‘You are now in Liverpool?’ “He is more like Klopp. There will be a point where you quit and that is it. When he was here working on a coaching course, he was seen as the best, number one. He knew it and liked it.” Iraola, who studied his coaching licence with Antiguoko, was in San Sebastian when Liverpool called. He hopped on a flight to Merseyside but was soon back in his hometown, determined to make his appointment to speak to the current crop of Antiguoko youngsters. He spoke with Montiel before and after Bournemouth’s draw with Manchester City sealed the title for Arsenal. They went on a tour to Italy in 1996 Credit: Collect Alonso and Arteta have previously faced off in a friendly match Credit: Getty All have a close connection with the town still. Alonso was spotted running along the seafront on the day of the FA Cup final in May, the day he finalised his deal to become Chelsea manager. The new Blues boss can still be found enjoying pintxos is the old town, where his signed picture hangs on the wall of one bar – Paco Bueno – run by the family of a school friend. After hours of playing a young Alonso would head there for their speciality prawns. He now enjoys dinners at the rather more pricey Rekondo and plays golf locally too. There is still a box available for him to attend Real Sociedad games whenever he wants, having started as a player and a coach with the club. Alonso’s brother also played for Antiguoko and Sociedad, as well as Bolton, while his father had a very brief stint as manager of the local team. Arteta returns less often, spending his summers in Majorca, but his mother still lives in his childhood neighbourhood. A competitive spirit is rife in this corner of Spain. Anyone in football who you will speak to will point out their standing in the Premier League compared to any other region, especially England and Catalonia. They all grew up in San SebastianCredit: Refer to source They represented Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectivelyCredit: Refer to source One local, a Real Sociedad fan – as everyone is – said: “The Catalans have Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique… but now we are top.” Everyone has that competitive streak, everyone loves Real Sociedad and everyone plays sport of some form. Alonso and Arteta grew up together in the well-heeled area of Antiguo on the eastern end of the beach. The two would meet on Calle Matia and head down to the beach to skateboard, surf, play tennis at Real Club Tenis de San Sebastian and play football on the sand, where tournaments were held on weekends at low tide. Diaz added: “Everyone is always doing something and aiming for something. “Climbing mountains, playing Basque pelota (local racquet sport), surfing, rowing or just football with some friends. “Edurne Pasaban, the first woman to climb all 14 mountains above 8,000 metres, is from Tolosa, Gizpukoa. The first boat to circumnavigate the globe was captained by a Gipuzkoan.” There is fierce pride in this hard-to-reach corner of Spain. For holidaymakers it can be idyllic, but those who call Donostia, as the city is known in Basque, home are weather-worn, hard working and tight-knit. Diaz added: “A long time ago in the countryside people would work together to rebuild a house which had burned down, or to clean the rivers or pick fruits from the trees. “This idea is now continuing and it is very important. It is something cultural which is passed down. “The coach figure is very important. If you are a coach in your little village of 10,000 people, you are something important, you are a VIP. “Our players and coaches, their way is not only football. People are intelligent, used to analysing and criticising. Well trained people and deep thinkers. I would not say they are different or elite, but they are complete.” Comment now