CINCINNATI, Ohio – Over the years, Terry Francona has watched proudly as his former players became major league managers.

But Thursday, the start of Francona’s 25th managerial season, was his first Opening Day managing against one of said players, Alex Cora.

That it took this long for Francona to face one of his old players in a season opener is somewhat surprising, given that four of them have been managing in the majors for at least half a decade: Cora, Kevin Cash (Tampa Bay Rays), Mark Kotsay (Athletics) and Dave Roberts (Los Angeles Dodgers).

Cora played for Francona on the 2005-08 Red Sox. As Francona managed in Cleveland from 2013-23, Cora’s coaching and managing career took off. In 2018, Cora led the Red Sox to a World Series championship in his first year as manager, just as Francona had done in 2004.

“He’s a Hall of Fame manager, we know that,” Cora said. “It’s just a matter of when he’s going to retire. Doesn’t seem like he wants to retire. But (I’m) excited about the opportunity to be here, blessed, to say the least.”

“I learned a lot from him those years (in Boston), I learned a lot from him just watching him from afar,” Cora said. “And I know he’s ready for us.”

“He’s an easy one to like,” Francona said of Cora. “Everybody always asks me those questions, and I think truthfully the way I answer it is, I feel fortunate to have been around so many good people, because they’ve helped me get better.”

It’s surprising, too, that it took a quarter of a century for Francona to open a season against a club he previously managed. But aside from being glad to see Cora, the day didn’t feel any different.

“Still nervous, didn’t sleep much,” Francona said. “That never changes. Today or tomorrow will be the biggest overreaction day of the year. And if we win, we’re going to the World Series. If we lose, we’re going to stink.”

“It’s so long ago,” Francona said of his Red Sox era, which spanned the 2004-11 seasons and included two World Series championships. “Shoot, it’s two teams removed. No, no. I like being a Red.”

The two managers’ shared time in Boston seems long ago to Cora, too. He summed up the feeling of managing against Francona in one word:

“Old.”