Pep Guardiola’s journey from a humble ball boy in 1985 to a world-class football coach is truly remarkable. What began as a youthful enthusiasm evolved through significant phases of his career, including being mentored by José Mourinho, and ultimately established him as one of football’s greatest coaches. This article delves into his modest beginnings, family background, and the untold story of his rise in football. It highlights his extraordinary path from his early days to becoming a transformative figure in the sport.
From 1985 Ball Boy to GOAT: Know Pep Guardiola’s Untold Story
Pep Guardiola is celebrated not just as one of the best players of his generation, but also as one of the most renowned football managers of our time. In this article, we’ll delve into the lesser-known aspects of his journey—stories that every football fan should be familiar with.
Pep Guardiola Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:
This is Pep Guardiola in his early years.
For Biography starters, his full name is Josep “Pep” Guardiola Sala.
The Spanish manager was born in Santpedor, Spain, on January 18th, 1971, to his father, Valentí Guardiola, a retired bricklayer, and mother, Dolors Sala Guardiola, a salesperson.
Though he wasn’t born into riches like some of his contemporaries, it was football that consumed him from the early onset.
From a young age, Pep Guardiola had a daily ritual of heading out to a square-shaped field next to his father’s house to play football for hours. His father, Sir Valentí Guardiola, fondly remembers how a football was the perfect Christmas gift for Pep, as he was always seen with a ball at his feet.
Pep Guardiola Parents:
Guardiola’s parents, Valenti and Dolors, still live in Santpedor. They vowed never to leave the sleepy village that helped their son ‘Pep’ start his career.
Pep Guardiola’s parents, Mr Valenti and Mrs Dolors Guardiola.
Both parties are always seen walking together in the county’s small Municipality that dots the Barcelona countryside.
To date, Santpedor still has worldwide recognition that is bestowed upon its most famous son ‘Pep’. Unlike his mother, Pep’s dad loves to get the media’s attention.
Mr and Mrs Guardiola have placed their pride in their son’s achievements, which is evident in the photographs and mementoes that decorate the neat family home.
Valenti Guardiola showcased his son’s monuments.
His dad is not just known to be very vocal when it comes to defending his son. He enjoys expressing controversial views on football matters.
Just days after Pep Guardiola’s big move to the Premier League was confirmed, his dad once slammed English football as being “boring”.
Valenti Guardiola said it was little more than constant “long balls and running”.
Valenti also said: “I have to confess that English football is not my cup of tea. It’s a lot of long balls and running.
I prefer the football my son likes to practise – lots of passing, then a surprise attack when a loophole opens up.”
Mr Valenti Guardiola (Pep’s Dad).
Valenti Guardiola, a retired bricklayer, was known for his incredible work ethic. From the age of 14, he worked tirelessly on building sites, putting in 10-hour days, and continued this demanding schedule until he was 66. Unlike his son Pep, who would go on to make a name for himself in football, Valenti never had the opportunity to play the sport himself. His dedication to his work was the cornerstone of his life, contrasting with the world of football that Pep would come to dominate.
Pep Guardiola Brother:
Guardiola comes from a family with a rich mix of talents and backgrounds. He has a younger brother, Pere, who has made a name for himself as one of the top football agents in the world. Pep also has two older sisters. While Guardiola has carved out his legacy on the pitch and as a manager, Pere has achieved significant success behind the scenes, contributing to the football world in a different yet impactful way.
Pere Guardiola has made a name for himself in the football agent business. He has Luis Suarez as his number one client. Pep also has two sisters named Olga and Francesca.
Relationship Life:
Pep is currently married to Cristina Serra. Pep had these children, Marius, Maria, and Valentine, before he finally tied the knot of marriage in 2014.
Their wedding was a discreet ceremony held in Catalonia. It was attended by only the best of friends.
The one happy family of Pep Guardiola.
He began his Football Career as a Ballboy:
Guardiola began his path to football greatness as a Nou Camp ballboy master.
He was part of Barca’s youth structure when Venables arrived as manager back in 1984 and had already shown signs of developing his knowledge of the game.
The attached picture below shows a 14-year-old young Pep celebrating with the former England boss after he had steered the club to the Spanish title in 1985.
Starting Football Career as a Ballboy.
Friends from his childhood have revealed that even at such a young age, Guardiola was developing the single-mindedness and drive that has turned him into the world’s most famous football manager.
This was a year after he started his football career at the Barcelona youth academy.
Pep Guardiola’s Early Football Career:
The career years of Pep.
Many refer to him as a ballboy master who turned to a professional footballer and great football manager.
Pep Guardiola dropped his ball boy duties a year after starting his football career at the Barcelona youth academy.
Pep Guardiola’s journey in football began at the young age of 13, when he joined Barcelona’s youth academy. As a promising defender, he, like Erik ten Hag and Ronald Koeman, quickly caught the eye of Johan Cruyff, the head coach of the first team. By the time he was 20, Guardiola had made his way into the senior squad.
During the 1990s, Guardiola became a key figure in Cruyff’s Catalan Dream Team. His solid performances helped secure an impressive haul of 6 La Liga titles, 4 Spain Super Cups, 1 European Cup, 1 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, and 2 UEFA Super Cups. Over his 12 seasons with the club, he made 479 appearances and established himself as one of the most dependable defensive midfielders of his era.
He played with big names such as Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, Xavi Hernández, Carles Puyol, Rivaldo, Vítor Borba Ferreira and the famous Luis Enrique, who later became Barcelona’s Coach.
Pep Guardiola’s former teammates at Barcelona – the beautiful playing days.
Early Relationship with Jose Mourinho:
He had a good relationship with his Ex-manager Jose Mourinho when he was still a player at FC Barcelona.
A POINT TO NOTE: Jose Mourinho, who was a former assistant coach of Barcelona, coached Pep.
Pep Guardiola – Back in the days with Jose Mourinho as his coach.
It is also pertinent to note that Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique were teammates at Bârca for five years, from 1996 to 2001. Attached is proof below;
Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique at Barcelona.
Pep Guardiola retired as a player when his contract with Qatari club Al-Ahli ended in June 2005. Immediately after his retirement, he began taking coaching courses that same month.
His first Barca exit wasn’t a happy one:
When Guardiola departed from Bayern Munich, he was given the praise he deserved, similar to his departure from Barcelona in 2012. The club observed a virtual month of mourning, with the entire squad, president, sporting director, and board members attending his press conference. This was followed by tribute videos and a heartfelt farewell speech in front of a packed Camp Nou—an appropriate send-off for a true legend.
This wasn’t always the case. When Guardiola left Barcelona as a player in 2001, he did so quietly and incognito. On one April afternoon, he informed then-president Joan Gaspart of his decision to leave. The president’s shocked response was, “When? Right now?!” Guardiola confirmed this and then informed Gaspart he planned to hold a press conference the following day, asking the president to accompany him.
The Barcelona Exit:
Pep Guardiola’s unhappy first exit at Barcelona.
It turned out that Gaspart had already planned a holiday to Switzerland, which he found impossible to reschedule, so he didn’t attend the farewell event. As a result, Guardiola, who had won six league titles and brought Barcelona their first European Cup, announced his departure to the media on his own.
It was a farewell far removed from the grand send-offs typical in England, a country Guardiola admired even then. Reflecting on his departure in 2001, Guardiola expressed his passion for English football, saying,
“I’m not sure where I’ll be playing yet, but I have a deep passion for English teams. There’s something honest about them. I still remember my first match at Old Trafford—it was an incredible experience,” Guardiola once said.
His dream to play for Manchester United was cut short by a sudden change of mind. Pep Guardiola made a move to a smaller Italian club side, Brescia Calcio.
Last Club as a player:
Believe it or not, but the last club Guardiola played for was the Mexican side Club Social Deportivo Dorados de Sinaloa.
Pep joined the Mexican outfit at the age of 34 and played there for just about half a year before retiring from professional football as a player.
This is Pep Guardiola before his football retirement.
Pep Guardiola was recruited to the club by Spanish coach Juanma Lillo. It was a move that kind of made sense since he was in a managerial school in Mexico.
Managerial Career Start:
Guardiola’s managerial journey formally began with Barcelona B in 2007, though he had already dipped his toes into coaching a professional team. His stint with Barcelona’s senior team kicked off in 2008, where he made an immediate impact. Over four seasons, Guardiola not only amassed 14 titles but also introduced a revolutionary playing style that captivated football fans worldwide.
Notably, Guardiola is known for his preference for press conferences over one-on-one interviews. After the 2011/2012 season, he took a sabbatical year in New York City, before taking over as manager of Bayern Munich in the summer of 2013 (before Carlo Ancelotti‘s arrival at the club). His first season at Bayern was a success, as he clinched the Bundesliga title, DFB-Pokal title, UEFA Super Cup, and Club World Cup.
Love For Fashion and Arts:
On the sideline, Guardiola is known for wearing perfectly cut slim suits. (Sometimes too slim).
No one has ever been able to find out where Guardiola gets his suits from, so if you’re reading this, Pep, please get in touch.
He is never afraid of a pop of colour. While the shirt-and-tie-under-a-bright-red-V-neck ensemble is a staple of European football managers (i.e., Arsène Wenger, former Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood), Guardiola puts them all to shame.
His clothing, like the one below, has made headlines in the past. Pep Guardiola was once labelled as the most fashionable man in football, according to the Spanish media.
We have credited his wife, Christina, as a key influence behind his fashionable lifestyle.
Speaking of clothes, Guardiola’s relationship with wife Cristina Serra grew around the latter’s family clothes shop in Manresa, in northeast Spain.
Attending German Beer Festivals:
One of Pep’s greatest hobbies is attending beer festivals. The Oktoberfest beer festival is his favourite.
This is a two-week beer festival held each year in Munich. It occurs during late September and running to around early October.
The Oktoberfest is a massive event attended by six million people each year. It has inspired countless similar celebrations both in Germany and around the world. Many of these events, often named Oktoberfest, were established by German immigrants or their descendants.
His love for beer festivals made him approve a certain beer advert for his former FC Bayern Munich team.
Pep Guardiola Books:
The Man City Boss has authored a good number of books sold on Amazon, among which are “The hell out of tiki-taka and the Evolution”.
The evolution talks about the challenges in football coaching careers and depicts to readers how he surmounted them to become a successful world football coach.
Evidence that Pep Guardiola is an author.
In recent years, several excellent books have been published about Pep Guardiola, from biographies to detailed accounts of his time at Bayern Munich, including one by Martí Perarnau. But did you know that Guardiola is also an author himself?
In 2001, he co-wrote a book titled My People, My Football with Lu Martin and Miguel Rico, two of Spain’s most respected football journalists. This book combines biography with insights into Guardiola’s approach to the game, offering a rare perspective straight from the source.
Unfortunately, there are two main issues with this book. First, it is available only in Catalan, and second, it is no longer in print. Despite its potential value, Guardiola has shown no interest in having it re-published.
Pep Guardiola Religion:
According to research, Pep Guardiola is non-religious. He is an Atheist and doesn’t believe in the existence of God.
People expected Guardiola to be at least mildly Catholic. As observed from most Spaniards. Pep is among that quarter of the population of Spain that considers itself non-religious.
Love for Golf:
A love of smart clothes naturally translates to a love of golf.
Guardiola attended the 2012 ‘Miracle in Medinah’ at the invitation of Europe’s Ryder Cup captain and compatriot Jose Maria Olazabal.
Aside from his playing career in Europe, Guardiola spent time with Al Ahly of Qatar. Then, Dorados de Sinaloa of Mexico proved his swansong.
Love for Peter Crouch:
In 2006, during the German World Cup, Pep Guardiola penned a series of columns for El País, offering a unique glimpse into his footballing perspective. One of the standout moments from these writings is his unexpected admiration for a particular striker from the tournament: Peter Crouch. Guardiola’s enthusiasm for Crouch, a choice that might surprise many, reveals a different side of the football mastermind’s insights.
Aside from Pep Guardiola’s bio, we have other related Managerial childhood biography stories for your reading pleasure. The life History of Massimiliano Allegri, Lionel Scaloni and Ryan Mason will interest you.
