Where are they now: Manuel Pellegrini’s first Real Madrid XI

Real Madrid will face Real Betis away from home this weekend in a bid for three huge points in LaLiga. At the helm of Betis—for quite some time now—is former Real Madrid manager Manuel Pellegrini.

It was a whirlwind summer of 2009, when Madrid spent big, signed stars, and handed Pellegrini the keys. His reign lasted just one season, swept away when the club turned to José Mourinho. But on August 29, 2009, as Pellegrini led his team out for their LaLiga opener at the Santiago Bernabéu against Deportivo La Coruña, he had no idea that his starting XI featured not just two Ballon d’Or winners but a third in the making.

The Real Madrid XI for that 3-2 win was: Iker Casillas, Alvaro Arbeloa, Raul Albiol, Ezequiel Garay, Marcelo, Xabi Alonso, Lassana Diarra, Kaka, Raul, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Karim Benzema.

Where are they now?

Iker Casillas: Retired from professional football in 2020 after a heart attack in 2019 while playing for Porto. He currently works as a football commentator for RTVE, Movistar Plus+, and Azteca Deportes. Additionally, he has been involved in various business ventures and charity work.

Álvaro Arbeloa: Retired in 2017 after stints with Real Madrid and West Ham United. He is currently the head coach of Real Madrid’s Juvenil A team (Under-19 squad).

Raúl Albiol: Still active as a professional footballer at age 39, he plays as a center-back for Villarreal CF in La Liga, where he has been since 2019. Known for his longevity and consistency, he remains a key figure on the pitch and has captained the team in various matches.

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Ezequiel Garay: Retired from professional football in 2021 after a career that included stints at Benfica, Zenit Saint Petersburg, and Valencia. Since retiring, he has kept a relatively low profile, with no prominent public role in football.

Marcelo: Recently retired from professional football. He announced his retirement on February 6, 2025, at the age of 36, following a remarkable career that included 16 seasons at Real Madrid, where he won 25 titles, and a return to his boyhood club Fluminense, where he added a Copa Libertadores title in 2023.

Xabi Alonso: Retired as a player in 2017 after a distinguished career. He is currently the head coach of Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, where he has gained significant acclaim for leading the team to their first-ever Bundesliga title in the 2023-2024 season and maintaining an impressive record.

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Lassana Diarra: Retired from football in 2019 after playing for Paris Saint-Germain. He has since ventured into entrepreneurship, notably founding a sports hydration brand called Heroic Sport. He has largely stayed out of the football spotlight otherwise.

Kaká: Retired in 2017 after finishing his career with Orlando City SC in MLS. He has since focused on family life and business interests, including real estate and investments in Brazil. While he has expressed interest in football management, he currently has no formal role in the sport, though he occasionally participates in charity matches and media appearances.

Raúl: Retired as a player in 2015 after playing for the New York Cosmos. He is currently the head coach of Real Madrid Castilla, the club’s reserve team in the Spanish Segunda División B, a position he has held since 2019, grooming young players for the first team.

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Cristiano Ronaldo: Still active at age 40, he plays as a forward for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, where he joined in January 2023. He continues to break goalscoring records and remains a global football icon, also engaging in extensive business ventures, including his CR7 brand.

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Karim Benzema: Still active at age 37, he plays as a striker for Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League, having left Real Madrid in 2023. He remains a prolific goalscorer and a key player for his club, maintaining his status as one of football’s elite forwards.