Nestled between a row of white apartment blocks and an artificial pitch perched on the rolling hills of Berio in San Sebastián, the modest grounds of Antiguoko have quietly produced three of football’s most recognizable names. It was on a strip of gravel‑covered earth, not the pristine turf of today’s academies, where Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola first learned the fundamentals of the game.
Roberto Montiél, the club’s long‑time coach and vice‑president, still remembers the exact spot where the centre circle once lay. He sits now in a public park that occupies the former pitch, thumb and forefinger rubbing together as he conjures the feel of the old surface. “The old ground was nothing like the new one up the hill,” Montiél says.
“It was smaller and covered in tiny stones, almost like gravel. The balls were heavier, especially when they got wet.
You’d slip, slide and end up with nasty scrapes if you fell.” Those humble conditions forged a legend that still circulates through the neighbourhood. The matches played by that generation of Antiguoko alumni are spoken of with reverence, especially now that two of them – Arteta and Alonso – will meet as opposing managers when Arsenal host Chelsea on Sky Sports this Sunday.
“Even back then you could see their footballing vision,” Montiél adds. “Trying to pass a ball on a rain‑slicked gravel pitch, with puddles everywhere, was something special to watch. The squads of ’81 and ’82 were extraordinary.” Arteta and Iraola belonged to the later age group, while Alonso was a year older.
Their teammates recall the side as a “national team of the best local players,” an unbeatable unit that dominated every competition they entered. Alvaro Parra, a former Antiguoko teammate and close friend of Arteta, reminisces: “We used to beat Real Sociedad 5‑0, Athletic Club as well – we won every league. People started calling us the Basque Dream Team.” The club’s reputation for producing talent remains intact.
A short drive from the old pitch, near Ondarreta beach, Montiél jokes that they need more wall space to display the ever‑growing list of signed shirts from former graduates – now over forty names, with Arteta, Alonso and Iraola taking centre stage. It still amazes everyone that three boys born within fifteen miles of each other in Gipuzkoa, the smallest Spanish province, have risen to manage Premier League clubs.
“If I really think about it, it’s absolutely crazy that our three friends are now running top English teams,” Parra says, laughing. “Sometimes I turn on the TV and think, ‘Oh, it’s Mikel!
Oh, it’s Xabi! How did this happen?’” Yanguas, another former teammate who played striker, recalls Arteta’s early promise: “He was small but technically brilliant and always thinking a step ahead. He played just behind me and was constantly looking for the next pass.
I just had to run.” Both Yanguas and Parra agree that Arteta’s presence elevated those around him. “I just had to pass the ball to Mikel, Mikel to Yanguas, goal,” Parra jokes, recalling their school‑yard exploits. Montiél has countless anecdotes from that gravel field, many highlighting Arteta’s sharp mind even as a child.
He tells the story of a drop‑ball situation against Real Sociedad: the referee blew the whistle, the ball bounced, and Arteta flicked it with the outside of his boot, sending a long pass to a teammate who scored. Even when playing a year above his age group with Alonso, Arteta showed a fierce competitive edge. “He had a real look of determination,” Montiél notes. “He was a predator on the pitch, even against older players.” That competitiveness has become a hallmark of Arteta’s managerial style.
Montiél even remembers a youthful Artetta sliding down a hallway in Liverpool, mimicking Jurgen Klinsmann, after beating him at PlayStation during a visit while Arteta was at Everton. “Whatever game you played with him, you always lost,” Parra says. “If you beat him at PlayStation or ping‑pong, he’d get angry and go home.
He was extremely competitive.” Their friendship endured beyond the pitch; after Arteta’s debut season with Paris Saint‑Germain, he called Parra: “Pack your suitcase, we’re going to Marbella.” Parra admits he has no photos of that trip, but the memory remains vivid. He also stresses Arteta’s disciplined nature, cultivated by his parents, which helped him adapt quickly when he moved to Barcelona’s famed La Masia at just fifteen.
While Yanguas, equally talented, returned home after a year, Arteta thrived, learning the language and culture rapidly – a skill he later repeated in France, Scotland and England. Reflecting on his upbringing, Arteta told Sky Sports, “Roberto used to tell me every day, ‘You’re going to be a professional footballer. You’ll be one of the best in the country.’ He believed in me more than anyone else. You need someone like that in your life.” Today, Antiguoko’s new pitch sits higher up the slope, where an under‑16 side trains under the midday sun.
Montiél points out a slight midfielder with exceptional technique, noting he turned down an offer from Real Sociedad to stay with the club – a source of pride for the coaches. Real Sociedad and Athletic Club regularly scout Antiguoko, signing players at younger ages, but many youngsters choose to remain because of the club’s holistic education. The current session is overseen by Iñigo Iraola, cousin of Andoni Iraola, who himself returned to Antiguoko as a coach while studying for his badges.
“I watched my first senior game here in Berio when Andoni returned with Athletic as an U18,” Iñigo explains. “He became my role model.” He still remembers buying his first pair of Adidas boots with Andoni on his birthday in San Sebastián – a moment he cherishes.
Parra contrasts the personalities of the three stars. “Mikel was the captain, always taking responsibility.
Andoni was quieter but incredibly talented, always polite and popular.” Montiél adds that Andoni, playing as a right winger, could beat two or three defenders on the byline, deliver a perfect pass and create a goal. When Andoni moved to Athletic, manager Ernesto Valverde shifted him to full‑back. At first Andoni resisted, “Why am I being put in defence?” but Valverde recognised his ability to surge forward and win the position, eventually making him a club legend with over 500 appearances. Andoni’s leadership style, described by his cousin as understated yet impactful, later saw him captain Athletic and transition into management.
His calm, example‑driven approach contrasts with Arteta’s vocal intensity, yet both share the same core values instilled at Antiguoko. Ignacio Azpilicueta, who played as a centre‑back directly behind Alonso in the youth ranks, offers a unique perspective. From his position he witnessed Xabi’s developing passing range, noting the midfielder’s evolution into a powerful, two‑footed player. “He won the ball a lot, used both feet, and his passes were always precise,” Montiél recalls.
Azpilicueta admits he didn’t initially foresee Alonso becoming a world‑class star. “He was a normal kid, not the biggest or quickest, but he was intelligent and had a great sense of humour. His decisions on and off the pitch were always sound – that’s a big part of his success.” So how does a modest neighbourhood club consistently produce such talent? Some point to the club’s scouting network – sporting director Óscar Landa boasts a 95 % success rate – while others credit the stability and dedication of its staff.
Montiél sums it up: “We’ve never changed Antiguoko’s DNA. Competitive instinct, intensity and sporting discipline are non‑negotiable.” Those very principles echo in Arteta’s managerial philosophy.
Iñigo Iraola adds, “We teach sacrifice, discipline, hard work, teamwork and competitiveness. That’s what makes us special and reflects the Basque character.” General director Gorka Azpeita stresses that the club’s impact goes beyond footballing ability. “It’s about the values they carry, the people they become, and how those qualities have taken them where they are today.” With Arteta and Alonso set to clash in north London this Sunday, the question of allegiance remains light‑hearted.
“It’s like choosing between mum and dad,” Azpeita jokes. “A draw would be perfect.”