Brexit separated them.. Champions League reunites Iraola and Inigo Perez

Anfield will host a clash between Spaniards Andoni Iraola and Iñigo Pérez on Tuesday evening, as Liverpool face Villarreal in the third round of the UEFA Champions League. This match tells a story of friendship and football, as Brexit separated the two coaches years ago.

The relationship between the coaches dates back to 2009, when Pérez was a rising player at Athletic Bilbao, as Iraola, who was a seasoned player in the team, helped him adapt to the first team environment. Since then, their relationship has continued, even after Pérez retired from playing in 2022, when Iraola brought him in to work as his assistant at Rayo Vallecano.

Iraola spoke about his friend, saying: "He is my friend. We have been together since our days at the Athletic Bilbao academy, and it is special to face him." Pérez confirmed: "We have known each other since childhood, and the meeting on the pitch will be emotionally exciting; it is a beautiful story."

And when Iraola moved to coach AFC Bournemouth in the summer of 2023, Pérez wanted to accompany him and work as his assistant in the Premier League, but he faced work permit restrictions imposed on foreigners after Brexit. The Spanish coach did not meet the required conditions to obtain the permit, despite being included in the list of exceptions, forcing him to remain in Spain.

Iraola said about that period: "It was difficult, he wanted to come, but he couldn't even register his children in school." After months, Pérez returned to Rayo Vallecano, taking over in February, successfully saving the team from relegation, then leading them to eighth place twice and reaching the UEFA Europa Conference League final, before moving to Villarreal this summer.

The upcoming match holds special significance for the coaches, who share similar playing styles, according to Javier Portillo, the former sporting director or technical manager at Rayo Vallecano, who has worked closely with both. He explained that their teams rely on speed, pressing, and aggression, both in defense and attack, with a clear tendency towards direct play and quick transitions towards the opponent's goal.

Liverpool are favourites to win as they seek their third consecutive victory in the competition, while Villarreal hope to pull off another surprise after defeating Napoli. The match also carries painful memories for the Spanish side, as Liverpool denied them a place in two European finals, one in the UEFA Europa League and the other in the Champions League.

Liverpool sit fifth in the Premier League standings with six points, while Villarreal are fourteenth with three points ahead of the anticipated clash at Anfield.