Valdano: “Guardiola is the most influential coach in the history of football”
Valdano has valued the “enormous passion” with which Guardiola works, coming from “love of the job, love of football, and love of the club in which he works”,
Former Real Madrid player and coach Jorge Valdano declared this Thursday that current Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola “is the most influential coach in the history of football” since his ways of working “are constantly imitated.”
During his speech at the 1st Circular Economy Conference held in Murcia, Valdano highlighted the “enormous passion” with which Guardiola works, which, according to the Argentine, comes from “love of the job, the love of football, and the love of the club where he works” which is why the Catalan coach’s greatest moments were had at Barcelona.
Valdano also praised the style of Johan Cruyff, first established when the Dutchman arrived at the Catalan club. His success was rooted in “a set of sacred and essential values” that were taken on by all the members of Barcelona.
The former Argentina coach also alluded to the former player and honorary president of Real Madrid, Alfredo Di Stéfano, highlighting “his power of credibility” within an institution as large as the Madrid outfit, earned with every drop of sweat he left on the field when he played.
According to Valdano, Di Stéfano had something very valuable for a soccer player, “sporting shyness”. It was through this which he showed “his respect to all the fans”, creating “a moral power” in which the values of Real Madrid were framed.
Likewise, he highlighted the “curiosity” of his compatriot and professional colleague Marcelo Bielsa, who, according to Valdano, asks many questions; and the more he asks, the higher their quality.