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Pep: Through The Years

After spending 6 developmental years as a player at FC Barcelona’s valued youth setup, Pep Guardiola graduated from La Masia at the age of 19, after Barcelona legend and manager at that time Yohan Cruijff, presented him with the opportunity to make his début against Cádiz CF [1]. It didn’t take Pep long, 1 year as a matter of fact before he became an established figure within the Barcelona side, during which he was touted as a key contributory figure to the La Liga and European Cup. Pep was also being credited by prominent italian magazines as the finest U21 player in the world. Pep went on to enjoy 11 successful years at Barca, making 263 appearances for the club [2], before leaving for spells in Italy, Qatar and Mexico. Pep later returned to his beloved club in 2007 to manage the Barcelona B side.

When Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard left the club in 2008, president Joan Laporta turned to his young manager, affording him with the opportunity to apply his trade as the Head Coach of Barcelona’s senior side.

It was evident that Pep had enjoyed a successful year at the helm of the ‘B’ side winning the Tercera División group and qualifying for the Segunda División B, but did he really have the credentials to coach the spanish wizardry of Barcelona? No one can argue his successes whilst coaching the B side but nothing compared to the successes he was about to achieve in his 4 year tenure as Barcelona’s Head Coach!

[3] 2008-2009: La Liga; Copa del Rey; UEFA Champions League

2009-2010: La Liga; Supercopa de España; UEFA Super Cup; FIFA Club World Cup

2010-2011: La Liga; Supercopa de España; UEFA Champions League;

2011-2012: Copa del Rey; Supercopa de España; UEFA Super Cup; FIFA Club World Cup

The ‘Tiki-Taka’ Philosophy

Throughout his time as a youth player, senior player and head coach, Pep has always been fortunate enough to be exposed to the Barcelona phenomenon that is ‘tiki-taka’. Tiki-taka compliments ‘the beautiful game’ and is often referred to nowadays as the blueprint coach’s across the globe try to copy. The truth is, the Tiki-Taka process can’t be copied, well not yet anyway! Barcelona have been developing this desired way of football for over 3 whole decades, installing it within the Prebenjamín side (U8’s) right through to the senior side. Evidently Barcelona players grow up learning this Tiki-Taka style of football, developing fantastic pass and movement attributes, possessing flair and the ability to receive the ball in tight areas, before calmly ‘popping the ball off’ to a team-mate. Its a philosophy built on trust. Trust in your players, trust in your team-mates, trust in your manager and trust in the philosophy! Its easy to forget that it was Real Madrid who had won back to back La Liga titles in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 season. At this time it would have been easy for Barcelona to change, but it was the trust in the philosophy that Barcelona showed and the patience that has been so fundamental to their successes now. Patiently waiting, knowing that sooner rather than later, the likes of Messi, Pedro, Busquets and Pique will fit alongside, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta and Ronaldinho, eventually evolving into the astonishing force that they are now.

But Can it Work in Germany?

The question is will Pep try to install the quick but patient Spanish flair philosophy into the strong and direct German philosophy, and if so, can it be successful? Unquestionably Pep has talented players at his disposal at FC Bayern München, with the likes of Ribery, Robben, Gomez, Schweinsteiger and Müller, 1stTouchFutbol’s fundamental concern compliment Jurgen Klopp’s belief’s, suggesting that with no Xavi, Iniesta and Messi at the heartbeat of the ‘tiki-taka’ philosophy can it really be implemented successfully within the German game?

References

[1] Draper, R., 2011. Ronald Koeman: How Pep Guardiola created the greatest football team in the world. UK: Daily Mail. Available from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1389541/Ronald-Koeman-How-Pep-Guardiola-created-greatest-football-team-world.html [Accessed 14 February 2013].

[2] Dempsey, J., 2013. Pep Guardiola Officially Becomes Bayern Munich Manager. What Culture. Available from: http://whatculture.com/sport/pep-guardiola-officially-becomes-bayern-munich-manager.php [Accessed 14 February 2013].

[3] FC Barcelona., 2013. Josep Guardiola (2008 – 2012). Spain: FC Barcelona. Available from: http://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/history/the-coaches [Accessed 14 February 2013].