Pep Guardiola mentored Mikel Arteta in management after his playing career, and the Arsenal manager has revealed he always idolised his fellow Spaniard, even when he was young.
Arteta was a product of the Barcelona academy, which also groomed Pep as a player and manager. Arteta was a youngster when Pep played, and he has revealed the Manchester City manager was exemplary even as a player.
He tells Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports: We met when I was 15-years-old. He was my idol, he was the one to emulate if I wanted to be a first-team player at Barcelona, and we built that relationship from there.
‘And then it was weird because when I was still playing and he was the Barcelona manager and Bayern Munich manager he would call me to ask about English teams and how would you play against that, and we built that relationship.
‘And one day it was very clear to me, (Guardiola said) “the day that I’m in England, I have a dream to do what I did in Barcelona in this league when everybody said it is impossible to do, and I would like your help and support and experience to help me to achieve that dream”. That was it.’
Just Arsenal Opinion
Pep is arguably the best manager in the world now, and working with him at City undoubtedly shaped Arteta’s managerial career.
The ex-midfielder will hope he can also win as many trophies as his mentor has won as a manager.
His Arsenal team looks unbeatable, and if they win the league, it will be the start of something unique and a solid career.
For now, he must continue to work hard and stay humble until he wins a major trophy, and it is exciting to see him and Pep fighting for the EPL title this season.
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link…
Reiss Nelson’s sad interview before his heart-breaking injury.
Please enjoy, watch and subscribe to JustArsenalVids
Like Rio ferdinand said Guardiola has created a monster in Arteta
Guardiola didn’t create Arteta. Instead he, Guardiola teamed up with Arteta’s qualities.
I agree if you say Guardiola gave Arteta the platform to express his footballing ideas and coaching abilities.
But that Guardiola made Arteta is a total faboo.
I agree with you, even guardiola himself told ferdinand that he didn’t create Arteta, he said he might hav even learn from Arteta more than Arteta learn from him
@savage, many will not accept because, for many years, they only saw Arteta play football. Whereas, he Arteta was quietly developing his leadership and managerial skills.
Why would guardiola make Arteta his assistant if he’s a novice knowing the pressure that comes with managing a top premier league team as Man City.
Arteta had it in him but Guardiola helped him realized his potential.
Sure, Arteta has admitted how Guardiola was his role model going all the way back to Barcelona and him being a fifteen-year-old academy player. Guardiola, it was mentioned how he wrang up Arteta to ask questions on tactics when facing English clubs and whatnot. It’s clear that they both had a great effect rubbing shoulders with one another …They both speak very highly of the other, and rightly so.