Past playersAlvaro Arbeloa

Frequently labelled an unsung hero, the Spaniard operated quietly but efficiently on the right side of the Reds defence.

He had started out at Real Zaragoza before being lured by Real Madrid aged 16. The Spanish capital was where he first worked with Benitez, who was then youth-team coach at the Bernabeu.

Arbeloa made his full debut for Madrid in October 2004, but managed just one further appearance in the next two years and moved on to Deportivo La Coruna.

It took just 21 appearances at Deportivo to convince Benitez that Arbeloa was the man to challenge Steve Finnan for the right-back slot at Liverpool.

He made his debut as a substitute against Newcastle United on February 10, which was followed by a first start at Camp Nou, where Arbeloa was deployed as a left-back.

It proved a tactical masterstroke on the part of Benitez as the new boy excelled, thwarting Barcelona starlet Lionel Messi and helping the Reds return home with an unlikely 2-1 lead. The trick was repeated two weeks later and Liverpool were through to the quarter-finals of the European Cup.

The full-back featured 14 times overall in his first six months on Merseyside, scoring once against Reading and coming on as a late substitute in the Champions League final defeat by AC Milan.

Arbeloa's club form finally brought international recognition in March 2008 when he came on with 15 minutes to go as Spain recorded a friendly victory over world champions Italy. Three months later he was part of the squad that triumphed in Euro 2008, though started just one game.

Arbeloa returned to Real in the summer of 2009 following the arrival of Glen Johnson at Liverpool.