A Shared Beginning

It’s a rare thing when three top football managers all come from the same childhood club. But that’s exactly what happened with Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso, and Andoni Iraola. All three grew up playing together in the Basque region of Spain.

• Mikel Arteta – now manager of Arsenal
• Xabi Alonso – now manager of Bayer Leverkusen
• Andoni Iraola – now manager of AFC Bournemouth

The Youth Club That Shaped Them

The three stars all started at a local youth club called Antiguoko in San Sebastián. This club is known for producing talented players. Arteta and Alonso even played on the same youth team before moving on to bigger clubs. Iraola also grew up in the area and joined the same club. Their early training there helped build their love for the game.

From Teammates to Top Managers

After their time at Antiguoko, each player took a different path. Arteta went to Barcelona’s youth system, then played for Rangers, Everton, and Arsenal before becoming a coach. Alonso also moved through Real Sociedad’s youth setup, then had a legendary playing career at Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich. Iraola joined Athletic Bilbao’s famous youth academy and spent his whole playing career there.

Coaching Success Across Europe

Now all three are leading top clubs. Arteta has turned Arsenal into Premier League contenders. Alonso shocked the world by winning the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen. Iraola has made Bournemouth a tough team to beat in the Premier League. Their shared roots in a small Basque club show how early experiences can shape future success.

What Their Story Teaches Us

The story of Arteta, Alonso, and Iraola is a reminder that big careers often start in small places. It also shows the power of a good youth system. Fans of these managers now have one more reason to root for them – they all came from the same neighborhood club.