When Arbeloa bowed out of Champions League with a cheeky dig at Piqué
A look back at Álvaro Arbeloa's Champions League farewell in 2016, as the former defender returns to the competition as a coach against Monaco.
Nearly a decade after his grand Champions League farewell as a player, Álvaro Arbeloa is set to make his return to Europe’s elite competition – this time in the dugout.
From La Undécima to the touchline
Arbeloa’s last Champions League memory as a player couldn’t have been sweeter. The 2016 final in Milan saw Real Madrid lift their 11th European Cup – ‘La Undécima’ – with the defender claiming his second Champions League medal before hanging up his boots at the Bernabéu.
Though a knee sprain cruelly robbed him of playing time in that final against Atlético Madrid, it didn’t stop him from being first to embrace Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portuguese star netted the decisive penalty in the shootout.
The Piqué zinger
But what many Madridistas remember most fondly was what happened during the trophy celebrations at the Bernabéu. Arbeloa became the toast of the town with an absolutely brilliant dig at Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué.
“I don’t know when or with whom all this started, but I do know who to thank – all of you, because you’re incredible,” Arbeloa told the adoring crowd.
This was a deliberate echo of Piqué’s infamous “thanks Kevin Roldán, it all started with you” quip during Barcelona’s treble celebrations the previous season – a reference to Cristiano Ronaldo’s controversial birthday party in 2015.
The Madrid faithful absolutely lapped it up. Proper needle between those two, wasn’t there?
Cheryshev tribute
Arbeloa wasn’t done with the surprises during those celebrations either. He appeared on the pitch wearing Denis Cheryshev’s shirt – a classy gesture towards the Russian winger who had become the unwitting protagonist in Madrid’s Copa del Rey disqualification against Cádiz due to an administrative error. Cheryshev had left the club in January, but Arbeloa hadn’t forgotten him.
Champions League legacy
Arbeloa’s European pedigree is nothing to sniff at:
- 68 total Champions League appearances
- 10 consecutive seasons in the competition (Liverpool and Real Madrid)
- 3 goals scored
- 2 Champions League titles
His final European match came at the Bernabéu in an 8-0 demolition of Malmö in December 2015, before that farewell in Milan the following May.
Now, as he prepares to face Monaco, Arbeloa joins that exclusive club of those who’ve participated in the Champions League both as players and coaches. The real prize, though? He’s got his mince pies on joining an even more select group – those who’ve won it in both roles.
Not half bad for a lad who started with just three unused substitute appearances for Madrid back in 2004-05.