3 men who have won the UEFA Champions League both as players and managers

Modified Nov 16, 2018 14:10 GMT

He built a Barca team that was as good as any in the history of club football

#2 Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola was a product of La Masia, the football academy of FC Barcelona, and learned the tricks of the trade under the tutelage of Johann Cruyff. He also became a part of the Barcelona senior team coached by Cruyff, and won the European Cup in 1992.

Barcelona beat Sampdoria 1-0 in the final at Wembley, and Guardiola was an intrinsic part of the Barca midfield.

Guardiola played as a defensive midfielder and thrived under the coaching of Cruyff, which gave him enough opportunities to demonstrate his passing abilities.

He went on to pursue a managerial career, and became the manager of Barca in 2009. He built a Barca team that was as good as any in the history of club football, and won the Champions League twice in 3 years.

Guardiola’s Barcelona had fabulous players like Lionel Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, and David Villa in it, and beat Manchester United in both the finals in 2009 and 2011. United were a strong side, but had no answer to Barca’s mellifluous passing football.

About the author

Subhadeep, an adept tennis journalist at Sportskeeda, has been writing about the sport for seven years. He is known for his exclusive match reviews and opinion pieces, utilizing his MBA degree to tackle them effectively with his problem-solving abilities.

Subhadeep lives and breathes tennis. He watches matches regularly and engages in social media platforms to stay on top of the latest happenings. As a writer, he brings the fan's perspective to his pieces, ensuring his readers enjoy an exceptional experience every time.

Growing up, he idolized Boris Becker, but he now firmly believes Novak Djokovic stands alone as the 'Greatest of all Time', especially considering the 24-time Grand Slam champion's incredible stats. One thing that still puzzles Subhadeep, however, is how Becker's Wimbledon tally might have reached five if not for Pete Sampras.

Speaking of the All England Club, the British Major holds a special place in his heart as he admires its blend of tradition and grass-court excellence. When not working for Sportskeeda, Subhadeep delves into the other "love of his life": football, and enjoys contributing his insights to different websites dedicated to the sport.

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Edited by Anthony Akatugba Jr.