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Pep Guardiola: Another Way Of Winning: The Biography (2012)

by Guillem Balague(Favorite Author)

3.99 of 5 Votes: 5

languge

English

genre

Memoir & Autobiography

publisher

Orion Publishing

review 1: I always thought Pep was the Alexander the great of football managers. As way of backstory, Alexander’s father was the man who built his great army and unfortunately died before he was able to launch it. I always have seen Pep as coming in and inheriting this stellar group of world-class players at their peak and then simply just allowing them to do their job playing a system that the club has always played and became incredibly viable with this amazing group of players. Therefore not much work for a manager. This view was reinforced as he seemingly abandoned Barca as they declined, taking up camp at Bayern Munich that are their successors for the worlds best team and not changing their style of play but rather sitting there and allowing the players to just do their thin... moreg and of course win titles.The book however, changes my opinion on a few things and helped to illustrate the genius and dedication pep has for the beautiful game. That being said, when a man moves from current best club to their successors, one cant help feel a little bit skeptical as to his real pedigree as a coach. Hes never been in a position where he has been on a tight budge and needed to get the best out of inferior players or adjust tactics for superior sides.. He has always been in the team with the biggest guns, which gives him incredibly advantage and one would argue tactics can be a little less thorough.I found quite a few sections of the book to be quite moving, especially the scenes where he is having trouble with the politics that come with a Barca appointment. However the portrait trying to paint pep as this “I will start at the bottom and work my way up because I need to prove myself!” seems to be bullshit because I mean he was the coach of the biggest fucking club in the world, after only 6 months in the role as a youth coach. Then he transfers to Bayern because he wants “champions league football, a winning history and solid base”, that’s clearly not a man that likes too much of a challenge is it? I am just not buying that part of his story.Sure the book seems to take the view that he was thrust into the role as the manager, by forces outside his control and he had long debates about whether to accept it. Sure there would be stress around the appointment, but there bloody well should be given you have the best players in the world! I will stop returning to this point.. But really its my biggest problem with his story. I think a man should be judged on his actions, rather then his intentions and anything he espouses.I do have a new appreciation for Pep the man after reading this book and can appreciate his tactical nous when dealing with other big sides. He clearly is incredibly intelligent and the insight into his ability to read the game and make quick decisions explains a lot. I was compelled by the details of him watching previous opposition matches for hours, trying to pick their weakness that he could exploit.All in all, a well written book and one that you should pick up if you have any interest in a genius of modern day football.
review 2: enjoyable biography,highly recommended for every fan of the Barca play style.Despite not being a culè (my case) you will certainly be amazed by Pep's leadership,values,tactical genius,and motivational speeches.and many hidden truths.I have come up,by the end of the book,to the conclusion he is a truly great man.This is my second football (auto)biography related book after "I am Zlatan" and it is definitely a thrill.Looking forward to reading Ancelotti's and Pirlo's ones so soon. less

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