How I marked Lionel Messi

After a playing career that took in high-profile spells at both Liverpool and Real Madrid, as well as 56 caps for Spain, Álvaro Arbeloa followed his former club and international teammate Xabi Alonso in taking his first coaching steps at the Real Madrid academy.

In this exclusive Masterclass with the Coaches’ Voice, Arbeloa looks back on his greatest challenges as a player through his new lens as a coach. He begins with one of the toughest assignments of all: being detailed by then Liverpool manager Rafa Benítez to mark a young Lionel Messi, from the unfamiliar position of left-back, in a huge Champions League tie against Frank Rijkaard’s Barcelona.

He goes on to reflect on his spell under José Mourinho and later Carlo Ancelotti at the Bernabéu, during which time he faced the contrasting challenges of lining up against Barcelona greats David Villa and Andrés Iniesta in his preferred right-back spot.

It’s a truly fascinating tactical insight, from a developing coach who can call upon vast experience of defending against some of the most dangerous operators in an iconic era of Spanish and European football.