A former player for Liverpool who once got into a confrontation with Jamie Carragher is taking a chance on a new role as a coach in the Real Madrid junior system, and he doesn’t look the same.
A former Liverpool player has changed drastically in appearance as he pursues a coaching career. The former defender is currently in charge of Real Madrid “Juvenil,” the Spanish powerhouse’s youth squad.
As a result, he has become acquainted with Fernando Torres, who was the Atletico Madrid youth team manager until recently. The striker merited a promotion to the reserves, where he will try to replicate Real Sociedad B’s Xabi Alonso’s achievements.
His get-togethers with Torres haven’t always been friendly. He also had a few arguments while still at Anfield, with Jamie Carragher notoriously grabbing him by the throat while they were on the field.
Maybe this clarifies why his playing career at Liverpool was cut short, lasting only two and a half seasons. Following that, he relocated to Real Madrid, where he had previously progressed through the youth ranks.
He was able to make a few first team appearances during his initial stint, but Deportivo La Coruna was eventually his new home. However, it only took Rafael Benitez six months to decide to sign him for Liverpool.
The most prosperous years of his career were spent during his second spell with Real Madrid. However, he did not actually hang up his boots there; instead, he played a season with West Ham United that was very unsuccessful before he finally retired.
The enigmatic figure: Alvaro Arbeloa
Alvaro Arbeloa, the World Cup and two-time Champions League winner, is the one you probably already predicted. The distinguished full-back, who captained Spain 56 times, is currently the manager of Real Madrid’s youth squad.
It seems sense that he looks so different at 44. His jet-black hair is thick and has grown in place of the buzzcut he wore when he first arrived at Anfield. He has also allowed his beard to grow.
Those exchanges with Torres have been extremely heated. The two sides ignored one another the next time they faced off after once coming to blows on the touchline.
However, Carragher has accepted full responsibility for the notorious West Brom incident. He described what transpired on the podcast Stick to Football.
“He was a reliable full back, and we were playing West Brom away. I wasn’t receiving the protection; he just kept going,” Carragher said. He’s playing almost like a right winger, and they’re attacking, and I’m thinking, “We have to get our clean sheet,” even though the game had already won quite easily.
“I was acting insane, so I grabbed him by the throat, and [Xabi] Alonso came over with everyone else.” When we went to the dressing room, he refused to give up. He was respectable; in the end, he won the World Cup.”
