Pep Guardiola Has Always Been My Hero – Arteta

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said that his success is all thanks to Pep Guardiola. He recently opened up about his first meeting with the legendary Spanish manager at the age of 15.

According to him, Pep was his hero while he was still a footballer, so having the opportunity to work with him at Manchester City was one of the best times of his life.

Arteta added that he connects with Pep because they are very much aligned when it comes to their football philosophy.

His words, “Someone that I met when I was 15 years old. He was my hero as a player. We end up working together and having one of the best times of my life. And again, if I’m sitting in the chair that I’m sitting in today, it’s big thanks to him.

Probably because, how attached we were in terms of philosophy and the way we were educated in Barcelona.

Then, because I think it was the right thing for me to step out of the club, to learn from other people, to have different kinds of experiences.

And he gave me the choice without coaching anybody to go straight to his coaching staff. One of the best decisions I made in my life.”

WOW.

Pep Guardiola Sala is a Spanish professional football manager and former player who is currently managing Premier League club Manchester City. Guardiola is the only manager to win the continental treble twice, the youngest to win the UEFA Champions League, and he also holds the records for the most consecutive league games won in La Liga, the Bundesliga, and the Premier League. He is considered to be one of the greatest managers of all time.

Guardiola has played for and advocated on behalf of the Catalonia football team. Between 1995 and 2005, he played seven friendly games for Catalonia.

Under Guardiola’s predecessor Frank Rijkaard, Barcelona were known for a 4–3–3 with plenty of flair with Ronaldinho being the centre point of the attack. Under Guardiola, however, the team became more disciplined with a greater focus on possession and a disciplined and aggressive pressing style.

Guardiola was born to Dolors and Valentí. He has two older sisters and a younger brother, Pere, a football agent. He is an atheist. Guardiola met his wife Cristina Serra when he was 18. They married on 29 May 2014.