Pep’s proteges are beginning to dominate soccer as Kompany lands Bayern job
Pep Guardiola’s tentacles stretch far and wide in football.
We all know how much influence he has on his own doorstep, as part of his mission to be remembered as the best manager of all time. But Manchester City are not the only beneficiaries of the Spaniard’s greatness.
Guardiola’s impact on the game is now so powerful, he can help persuade the might of Bayern Munich to make Vincent Kompany their next manager. He can get the German giants to overlook Kompany’s inexperience and the fact he led a team to relegation last season with 24 defeats.
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In favour of appointing someone who smacks of desperation, after Bayern bosses suffered more rejection than Diane Abbott when it came to choosing someone ahead of the bloke from Burnley.
It’s understood Guardiola spoke with his former bosses in Munich about who could be the ideal coach for them. And when Kompany’s name came into the conversation, Guardiola’s reference for the Belgian couldn’t have been more glowing.
What do you think of Pep Guardiola’s assistants starting to dominate football? Let us know in the comments section
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
On what basis Guardiola thinks Kompany has what it takes to make the leap from Burnley to the Bavarian beast that is Bayern, is anyone’s guess. Because while Kompany played with huge distinction under Guardiola at the Etihad, he remains a managerial novice.
But his promotion to one of the biggest jobs in football is another reminder of just how influential Guardiola can be.
Bayern bosses will be hoping Kompany can emulate certain others, when it comes to using the knowledge gleaned from working under Guardiola to help them forge their own careers in management.
(Image: (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images))
And no-one has done this better than Mikel Arteta. To such a degree that Arteta came close to leading Arsenal to the title this season, depriving Guardiola himself of a historic fourth league crown on the spin.
When Arteta hung up his boots he had offers to become coaching assistant to Arsene Wenger at Arsenal and Mauricio Pochettino at Paris Saint Germain. But when Guardiola came calling, his mind was made up.
Between 2016 and 2019 Arteta watched and helped Guardiola win five major trophies, before going it lone when Arsenal offered him the chance to replace Unai Emery at the Emirates. And he hasn’t looked back.
(Image: PA)
Arteta won the FA Cup in his first season, beating Guardiola’s City in the semi finals, and has turned Arsenal into a genuine force in the game again. But Arteta isn’t the only Pep protege to go on and make his mark in football while standing on his own two feet.
Enzo Maresca is another product of Guardiola’s coaching academy to flourish, having led Leicester City back to the Premier League this season. Maresca, who is poised to replace Pochettino at Chelsea, had two spells working for Guardiola at City.
He became manager of the Elite Development Squad in 2020 and, following a spell at Parma, returned to City in 2022 as Guardiola’s assistant, replacing the Saudi-bound Juanma Lillo.
(Image: Getty Images)
So who is next off the Pep production line? Step forward Carlos Vicens, who is Guardiola’s current assistant, but appears destined for bigger things.
Twelve months ago Vicens agreed a contract to manage Dutch side Heracles, but following their subsequent relegation he changed his mind, reneged on the deal and stayed with Guardiola.
Vicens is now lauded as Guardiola’s set-piece king, one of the secret weapons behind City’s remarkable success. And he could be heading to another big club sometime soon.
