Nestled between a line of white apartment blocks and a synthetic pitch perched on the rolling hills of Berio in San Sebastian, Antiguoko’s old training ground holds a special place in the memories of three football greats – Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola. The strip of earth where they first learned to control a ball and read a game has become the stuff of local legend, and its story is now being retold for a wider audience.
Roberto Montiél, the club’s long‑time coach and vice‑president, still remembers the feel of that original surface. "The centre circle was just over there," he says, gesturing toward a public park that now occupies the space. He rubs his thumb and forefinger together as if to summon the gritty texture of the old pitch.
"It wasn’t like the new grass we have now. It was smaller, made of tiny stones – almost like gravel.
The balls were heavier when they got wet, and a slip could leave you with a nasty scrape." Despite those harsh conditions, the young players who came through Antiguoko in the early 1980s turned the rough field into a showcase of talent. "Even then you could see their vision for the game," Montiél adds, recalling the way Arteta, Alonso and their teammates could thread passes on a wet, muddy surface littered with puddles. "The teams from the ’81 and ’82 generations were extraordinary." Arteta and Iraola belonged to the later age group, while Alonso was a year older. Their teammates describe the side as a "national team of the best players in the area," an unstoppable force that dominated local rivals.
Álvaro Parra, a former Antiguoko teammate and close friend of Arteta, remembers the ease with which they dispatched Real Sociedad and Athletic Club, often winning 5‑0. "We won every league, and the squad became known as the Basque Dream Team," he says. The club’s reputation for producing elite talent has only grown. In the office a mile away, near Ondarreta beach, Montiél jokes that the wall of signed shirts from former graduates is getting too crowded – more than forty names now hang there, with Arteta, Alonso and Iraola occupying the most prominent spots.
What makes their achievements even more astonishing is the geographic closeness of their origins. All three were born within a 15‑mile radius in Gipuzkoa, Spain’s smallest province, and they are only seven months apart in age. Yet each has risen to manage Premier League clubs, a fact that still amazes their old teammates. "If I really think about it, it’s absolutely crazy that our three friends are managing these Premier League teams," Parra says, laughing.
"Sometimes I turn on the TV and think, ‘Oh, it’s Mikel! Oh, it’s Xabi! What on earth happened here?’" Arteta was always seen as the standout.
Former striker Mikel Yanguas, who later followed Arteta to Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, describes him as "small but very technical and clever, always thinking about his next pass." Yanguas admits that playing alongside Arteta made him look better than he was, and Parra, a former centre‑back, echoes the sentiment: "I just had to pass the ball to Mikel Arteta. Mikel Arteta to Yanguas. Goal." Montiél has countless anecdotes from the old gravel pitch that illustrate Arteta’s early football intelligence. One story he loves to tell involves a drop‑ball situation against Real Sociedad: the referee blew for the restart, the ball bounced, and Arteta flicked it with the outside of his boot, launching a long pass that led to a solo goal.
"He was always alert to everything happening on the field," Montiél notes. Even when Arteta was a year younger than Alonso, his competitive edge shone through.
"He had a real competitive look about him," Montiél recalls. "He was super‑attentive to everything you said, and when he stepped onto the pitch he became a predator, even against players a year older." That fierce competitiveness followed Arteta into his managerial career.
Montiél remembers a teenage Arteta sliding down a hallway in Liverpool, mimicking Jürgen Klinsmann, after beating him at PlayStation during a visit while Arteta was at Everton. "Whatever game you played with him, you would always lose," Parra adds. "If you beat him at anything, he would get angry and go home.
He was very, very competitive." Their friendship extended beyond football. After Arteta’s debut season with Paris Saint‑Germain, he called Parra and said, "Pack your suitcase, we’re going to Marbella." Though Parra has no photographs of that trip, the memory remains vivid. He also highlights Arteta’s disciplined nature, noting that his parents instilled a strong work ethic that helped him adapt quickly when he moved to Barcelona at just fifteen. Yanguas observes that Arteta’s ability to integrate into new environments – whether in France, Scotland or England – was a key factor in his success.
Arteta himself credits Antiguoko for sparking his belief. "Roberto used to tell me every day, ‘You’re going to be a professional footballer. You’re going to be one of the best footballers in the country,’" he told Sky Sports. "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 that the player turned down an offer from Real Sociedad to stay with the club – a testament to the loyalty Antiguoko inspires. The club’s scouting network, led by sporting director Óscar Landa, boasts a 95 percent success rate, but Montiél believes the secret lies in the club’s DNA. "We’ve never changed the DNA of Antiguoko – competitive instinct, intensity and sporting discipline are non‑negotiable," he says.
This philosophy mirrors Arteta’s own managerial mantra of “competitive instinct.” Iñigo Iraola, a cousin of Andoni and now a youth coach at Antiguoko, exemplifies the club’s continuity. He grew up watching his older relative play for Athletic Club and later followed his path, first as a player in the youth ranks and then as a coach while studying for his badges. "The first game I ever watched was here in Berio when Andoni returned with Athletic as an U‑18," he recalls.
"From then on he was a role model." Former teammates describe Andoni as more introverted than Artetta, yet equally gifted. "Mikel was the captain, he took responsibility. Andoni was quieter but incredibly talented and always a fun, polite teammate," Parra says.
Montiél adds that Andoni’s impact came from his work on the wing, where he could beat defenders, deliver precise crosses and create scoring opportunities. When Valverde moved Andoni from right‑wing to full‑back at Athletic, the player initially resisted, questioning the decision. However, the coach recognised Andoni’s physical attributes and ability to surge forward, eventually turning him into one of the most reliable full‑backs in La Liga, a role he would later excel in as captain of Athletic, amassing over 500 appearances before moving into management.
Ignacio Azpilicueta, who played as a centre‑back directly behind Alonso at Antiguoko, offers a unique perspective on the midfield maestro’s development. He watched Xabi’s passing range expand as the youngster grew physically, noting that the combination of intelligence and newfound strength propelled Alonso into top‑flight football. "He had a good touch, but he wasn’t the biggest or strongest at first. It took time for him to grow, and when he did, his intelligence shone through," Azpilicueta explains.
Both Alonso and Arteta share traits of humility, intelligence and a relentless drive – qualities that were nurtured at Antiguoko and have defined their careers. The club’s general director, Gorka Azpeita, emphasizes that the true measure of success is not just the trophies won, but the character of the individuals it produces. "Beyond the footballing talent, it’s important to highlight what they are like as people – their values, their discipline, their teamwork," he says.
Antiguoko continues to churn out talent. Recent graduates include Arsenal midfielder Martín Zubimendi, a World Cup winner with Spain, and Rayo Vallecano manager Iñigo Pérez.
The club’s scouting, coaching stability and unwavering philosophy ensure that the next generation will have the same foundation that turned a gravel pitch in Berio into a cradle of Premier League managers. As Arsenal and Chelsea prepare to meet on a Sunday in north London, the question on everyone’s mind is whose side the former Antiguoko alumni will be cheering for. "That’s like choosing between Mum and Dad," Azpeita jokes. "A draw would be perfect." The story of this tiny Basque club – from its rough‑stone field to the global stage – illustrates how a clear set of values, a supportive community and a relentless competitive spirit can transform ordinary youngsters into world‑class professionals and managers.
It is a reminder that great football often begins in the most modest of places, where the love of the game is forged in gravel, rain and unwavering dedication.