Liverpool boss Iraola faces old friend Perez in Champions League clash
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola prepares to face Villarreal coach Inigo Perez at Anfield in a Champions League match on Tuesday.
Friendship history before rivalry
The two Spaniards first met as young players at Athletic Bilbao before Iraola hired Perez as an assistant at Rayo Vallecano. They played together in the first team and worked side by side for many years until their paths diverged.
Work permit blocks partnership
Perez could not work in England after the Home Office denied him a visa and a Football Association panel ruled he could not contribute to English football. This decision meant Perez would manage Villarreal instead of staying as Iraola's assistant at Liverpool.
Match day communication pause
Iraola said the upcoming game has caused them to talk less because they do not want to interfere with the match. Perez stated that meeting on the pitch is emotional even though they usually speak continuously about football.
All 2 outlets report consistently
No differences in figures, names or dates across these reports.
- Dawn
- The Guardian
Reported by
2 independent outlets. Headlines as published. Links open the original report.