Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres, Wayne Rooney and stars who have played under their ex-teammates amidst Coutinho - Gerrard reunion

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In the wake of Philippe Coutinho’s move to Aston Villa to joined a team managed by his ex-teammate, we take a look at the long list of top players who have served and still serving under their former teammates.

Diego Simeone and Fernando Torres representing Atletico Madrid. Photo Credits: Getty.

Sergio Ramos under Zinedine Zidane

Former Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos was managed by ex-teammate Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid after the duo play alongside each other for the club in the 2005-06 season.

Spanish defender Ramos arrived at Real Madrid from Sevilla in what was Zidan’s final season at the club. It was at the end of that season that the French midfielder announced his retirement from the game.

Sergio Ramos played under Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid. (Soccrates Images/Getty Images)

He returned to manage the club for two stints, one between 2016 to 2018 and another from 2019 t 2021 and he was able to manage his former teammate, Ramos.

Cristiano Ronaldo under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick

Cristiano Ronaldo arrived to Manchester United in 2004 as a teenager and played alongside Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who had been at the club since 1996.

They enjoyed a successful spell at the club before Solskjær’s retirement in 2007 and Ronaldo left the club two years later.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were teammates under Sir Alex Ferguson. (Photo Credits: Getty)

The Norwegian was appointed United’s manager in 2018 and Ronaldo rejoined the club from Juventus in the last summer and had games under Solskjær before the later was dismissed from his post midway through the season.

After the departure of Solskjær, Michael Carrick took charge for three games and played Ronaldo in those, joining a list of managers to have coached their ex-teammates.

Fernando Torres under Diego Simeone

In 2001, Fernando Torres was integrated into the Atletico Madrid first team and the club later signed Diego Simeone in 2003. Both played for the club until Simeone left a year before Torres departed to Liverpool.

Simeone returned to the club in 2011 as the managed and brought his ex-teammate back to the club between 2015 and 2018 as so he was able to manage the Spaniard.

Gianluigi Buffon under Andrea Pirlo

Two of the most iconic names in the Italian football, Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon were integral part of the Italy team that won the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Image Credit: Getty

At club level, the dominated the Serie A between 2011 to 2015 after Pirlo joined Juventus from rivals AC Milan and together, they won four league titles, one Copa Italia and two Italian Super Cup.

They also reached the Champions League final in the 2014-15 season but eventually lost to Barcelona.

Pirlo was appointed Juventus manager for the 2020-21 season and brought back Buffon from PSG Paris-Saint Germain. The goalkeeper then played under his ex-teammate.

Cesar Azpilicueta under Frank Lampard

Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta joined Chelsea ahead of the 2012-13 season, when Frank Lampard was already approaching his final season at the club.

Both played together at the club and Azpilicueta remained after Lamprad’s departure in 2014.

Lampard did return as the manager in 2019 and coached his ex-teammate before being sacked in the early months of 2021.

Dani Alves under Xavi Hernandez

Both were part of the best moments in the club’s history and having both left the club, with Xavi leaving after the 2015 Champions League triumph and Alves a year after in 2016, both have now returned to the club.

Dani Alves and Xavi Hernandez celebrates for Barcelona. Photo Credits: Barcelona.com

Xavi joined as the manager after the sacking of Ronald Koeman in 2021 and few weeks later acquired his former teammate who was a free agent.

Alves made his Barcelona return on Wednesday January 5 in a Copa del Rey round of 32 game against Linares Deportivo and so he was able to and still playing under his ex-teammate, Xavi.

Wayne Rooney under Ryan Giggs

After the dismissal of David Moyes months into his reign as the Manchester United boss in 2014, Ryan Giggs was appointed as an interim player manager for the season’s remainder.

With Rooney still in the books at the club, Giggs managed his teammate for a couple of games before the end of the season and Louis Van Gaal’s subsequent appointment.

Mesut Özil under Mikel Arteta

Mesut Özil and Mikel Arteta were both Arsenal players under Arsene Wenger between 2013 to 2016 when Spanish midfielder, Arteta called time on his playing career.

Özil remained at the club until Arteta was appointed to succeed Unai Emery in December 2019 and the German played for the club with his ex-teammate dishing out information from the sidelines.

All eyes will now be on both Philippe Coutinho and Steven Gerrard when the Brazilian makes his official debut for the club.


Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi

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