Former players up the stakes in the dugout
Today's La Liga kick off not only marks the start of intense competition out on the field - the rivalry in the dugouts is also set to be fierce. From the tactics, the orders and the way the individual pieces are pulled together, the success of the teams largely depend on their coaches.
They are the weakest links in the chain of football. But this time, they are starting out with an advantage: they know how it feels to be out on the pitch. And that is because all the coaches at the helm of Spain's elite domestic league teams this year have also been footballers themselves.
In the First, Second or Third Divisions, in the Champions League or the World Cup, they have played for titles, promotions and against relegations. They know the workings of the dressing room first hand, a factor that makes it difficult to second guess them.
From Atlético Madrid to Eibar, these top division coaches were all players first. Football has always favoured former players on the bench because of their knowledge of the terrain, the dressing room and the secrets of a sport full of customs and traditions.
Nine of them - Francisco, Valverde, Simeone, Luis Enrique, Berizzo, Garitano, Sergio, Contra and Paco Jémez – have been players and coaches at the same club. Idols on the pitch, captains and heavy-weights, they have now made the jump to the dugout, this time to give the orders at home.
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