Lionel Messi’s ‘greatest’, ‘better than sex’, humble, and with a ‘sickness’ for football

Pep Guardiola is about to show 50, however the nice tactician has no plans to name it a day quickly.

Ten years in the past, the Manchester Metropolis supervisor already had two Champions League titles to his title as his all-conquering Barcelona aspect etched their title as one of many greatest teams to play the beautiful game.

A decade and two golf equipment later, the Spaniard remains to be thought to be one of the very best coaches in world soccer.

“Expertise helps you on this job, particularly the way in which I stay my occupation,” Guardiola mentioned when quizzed on his future earlier this month. “Earlier than I assumed I’m going to retire quickly and perhaps now I’m pondering I’m going to retire older. Fifty already is a pleasant age.”

After revolutionising the sport in Barcelona together with his ‘tiki-taka’ philosophy and successful trophies galore, Pep moved to Germany the place he led Bayern Munich to a few Bundesliga titles on the bounce, with silverware additionally coming by way of the DFB-Pokal, UEFA Tremendous Cup and FIFA Membership World Cup.

A transfer to Manchester Metropolis adopted in 2016 and but extra silverware has gone his method in England.

He has gained two Premier League titles, three League Cups and the FA Cup throughout his tenure on the Etihad, however the Champions League has been the one trophy to elude him.

Guardiola’s success is aware of no bounds and right here, talkSPORT.com has taken a take a look at what his buddies, foes, coaches and distant admirers have mentioned about him as he reaches 50…

Lionel Messi

The Argentine was on the peak of his powers underneath Guardiola at Barcelona and gained all there’s to win in membership soccer underneath his stewardship.

He scored a record-breaking 91 targets (sure 91) in a single calendar 12 months underneath his steering  – and Messi has steadily mentioned Guardiola was the perfect coach he has had.

Final month he remained coy over whether or not they might reunite sooner or later, saying: “We don’t discuss whether or not we’re going to meet once more. For me Pep is the perfect, he has one thing particular.”

Dani Alves

The veteran Brazilian, who has won more than any other player in history, famously performed underneath Guardiola at Barcelona and virtually joined him at Manchester Metropolis too, and he liked each second together with his ex-coach.

“I feel Pep is a genius,” he mentioned in a single interview.

“A genius that soccer gave us as a present, as a coach, as an individual. How he acquired the perfect out of each participant – those who performed rather a lot, those who didn’t play as a lot – making a synergy with numerous respect between these contained in the group.

“That places him in a really particular place in my life and a really specific place. I feel he’s a nonconformist genius, a methodical genius, a perfectionist genius and I feel that makes him distinctive.

“Wherever he goes, he can win extra or he can win much less, however I feel a participant that works with him won’t ever be the identical. On daily basis is a studying [curve], it’s a category such as you have been going to varsity. It’s a self-discipline since you study one thing extra.”

In the meantime, in one other interview, he added: “To work with him, is best than intercourse.”

Guardiola brilliantly responded by saying he ‘prefers the sex… by far’.

Phillip Lahm

Guardiola led Bayern to a few consecutive titles on the Allianz Area and former Germany captain Lahm performed an instrumental function in that success.

“He’s an unbelievable coach on a totally totally different degree when it comes to techniques,” he mentioned. “He actually helps gamers develop and he even helped me enhance on the age of 30.

“With Pep it’s extra than simply about successful trophies. You’re at all times measured by the variety of trophies however he developed numerous gamers with the way in which he thinks about techniques, the way in which he analyses video games and prepares groups for specific opponents.”

Thiago Alcantara

The Liverpool midfielder couldn’t cover his disappointment that his compatriot left for Man Metropolis in 2016.

He mentioned: “All of us wished Guardiola to stay. He’s the perfect coach I’ve ever labored with.”

Xavi

One other participant who blossomed underneath Guardiola at Barcelona, Xavi believes his former boss’ tactical nous is unrivalled within the sport.

He mentioned: “He doesn’t give himself a minute’s relaxation. He’s pig-headed, soccer is his all the things and he places a lot depth into all the things. Pep’s virtually acquired a illness for soccer.”

Paul Scholes

The Manchester United icon, who was defeated by Guardiola’s Barcelona within the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals, is eager to see the Spaniard take cost of England’s nationwide group sooner or later.

He mentioned: “I hope he turns into England coach sooner or later and brings us his model. He can nonetheless achieve England. He might enhance in defence as a result of at each floor you come underneath strain, however everybody in England loves the way in which his groups play.”

Frank Lampard

The Chelsea boss defeated Guardiola’s unbelievable Barcelona aspect as a participant in a 2012 Champions League semi-final however the Blues icon admitted the model of play he has dropped at soccer had not been seen earlier than.

He mentioned: “What I like about Guardiola is that he had some unbelievable gamers at Barcelona who have been already there and that he went to Bayern Munich to coach in the perfect group within the league, however when he arrived right here, Metropolis was not the perfect group and now he’s very forward of the others and taking part in in a method that we had by no means seen earlier than.”

Sir Alex Ferguson

Arguably soccer’s biggest supervisor of all time says Guardiola’s persona is what stands him apart different coaches within the sport.

“One factor I’ve observed about Guardiola – essential to his immense success as a supervisor – is that he has been very humble,” Sir Alex mentioned.

“He has by no means tried to brag, he has been very respectful and that is essential. As a coach he’s very disciplined when it comes to how his group performs, whether or not they win or lose he’s at all times the unpretentious particular person. And to be trustworthy, I feel it’s good to have somebody like that on this occupation.”

Diego Maradona

The late nice Argentine predicted Guardiola to have a superb profession in his early days as a supervisor.

He mentioned: “Pep is a wonderful man. I do know Guardiola very effectively, however perhaps he doesn’t get as a lot benefit as a result of he has spectacular gamers. Let’s not neglect although that he’s very younger and has an incredible profession forward of him.”

Thierry Henry

The Arsenal legend spent two years with Guardiola from 2008-2010 and has steadily spoken of his want to implement an identical model to his former supervisor as he coaches Canadian membership Montreal Affect.

“There’s one factor you might be certain of – he needs to dominate,” the Frenchman mentioned. “Individuals affiliate his groups with the variety of targets they rating however his groups additionally don’t concede rather a lot. He at all times needs to be on the entrance foot, having the ball, possession, and he needs to dominate.”

Zinedine Zidane

Actual Madrid boss Zidane is making his personal title as an unbelievable supervisor, however he has dismissed comparisons to Guardiola previously.

He mentioned: “You shouldn’t make comparisons with me and Guardiola. He has achieved unbelievable issues. Guardiola is a incredible coach and what he’s doing could be very spectacular.”

Andres Iniesta

A real nice for Barcelona and Spain, Iniesta relished Guardiola’s potential to seek out the reply to any drawback that’s thrown to his aspect in a soccer match.

“He provides you so many options for when you’re then in the midst of a sport, and practically all of them develop into the correct options while you apply them.”