Xabi Alonso, Andrea Pirlo, Cesc Fabregas: how the 2010s stars are faring as managers | OneFootball

A clutch of 2010s icons now run elite dugouts, with Real Madrid turning to Alvaro Arbeloa in January after Xabi Alonso.

L'Équipe notes Spaniards still set the tone while Italy’s 2006 winners have laboured, though the intent is attacking. Xabi Alonso, 44, achieved the improbable at Bayer Leverkusen, unbeaten in 2023-2024 to end Bayern Munich’s rule, losing only the Europa League final 0-3 to Atalanta Bergame.

Mikel Arteta, 43, has stamped his style on Arsenal since 2019 after learning under Pep Guardiola. A secure defence, set-piece threat and structured midfield underpin the Premier League leaders. In Germany, Vincent Kompany, 39, has modernised Bayern with Harry Kane and Michael Olise, a powerful side pressing high and clear at the top.

At Côme, Cesc Fabregas, 38, pursues space-dominating ideas, installing Nico Paz at the heart of an adventurous system and targeting Europe. Thiago Motta, 43, took Bologna to the Champions League then was sacked by Juventus in March 2025, his total, dogmatic football still waiting to convince. Xavi, 46, won La Liga in 2023, then exited after PSG’s 2024 quarter-final and a lost title, later conceding standards had slipped.

Andrea Pirlo, 46, has struggled to impose his attacking creed across Juventus, Karagümrük and Sampdoria over four seasons, and is now in the UAE second tier in Dubai. Alvaro Arbeloa, 43, is seven wins and three defeats into his tenure, with a 1-0 first-leg win over Benfica setting up Wednesday’s 21:00 return, a last-16 berth within reach and a first major test.

Source: L'Équipe