East Rutherford, N.J. – Master will take on apprentice when Spain coach Luis de la Fuente lines up against his former student, Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni, in the World Cup final on July 19.

Nine years ago, Scaloni was just another former professional player pursuing a career in coaching, studying for his pro licence at the Spanish football federation’s training centre in Las Rozas, on the outskirts of Madrid.

His teacher on the course? De la Fuente.

In the years since, both men have gone on to forge successful coaching careers in international football.

Scaloni, 48, took charge of Argentina in August 2018, initially on an interim basis – less than a year after taking coaching lessons in de la Fuente’s classroom.

Since then the former Deportivo La Coruna player has led Argentina into a ...