Guardiola tips Man City star to follow in footsteps of Liverpool target Alonso

10 March 2024 , 12:09

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Pep Guardiola and Xabi Alonso worked together at Bayern Munich (Image: Lars Baron)

Pep Guardiola has backed Manchester City star Rodri to become a top manager when he decides to retire.

A number of Guardiola's former players have gone on to enjoy successful managerial careers, including current Barcelona boss Xavi and in-demand Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso. And Guardiola believes Rodri could follow in their footsteps.

"I always had the theory that good holding midfielders can be good managers," he said. "Wingers rely on their actions but a holding midfielder has to see the game from a global (wider) perspective. Rodri can do it. It depends on the desire he has and if he wants to."

However, Rodri revealed last month that he sees himself becoming a sporting director once he eventually hangs up his boots, having successfully completed a degree in Management and Business Administration.

‌"It's not just about the future and what I'm going to do after football, it's also about having knowledge and being different from the typical footballer," he told when asked about his plans for life after football.

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"Football sometimes is so demanding, so stressful and if you are 24 hours thinking football then I don't think it's healthy and it helped me a lot." And the 27-year-old is learning from City's sporting direct Txiki Begiristain, who previously worked as Barcelona's director of football before making the move to the Etihad in 2012.

"I see Txiki and I think what a good life this guy has! I see Pep so stressed going here and there, talking to the players, I see Txiki and he is the most important part of this," Rodri told the Manchester Evening News.

Guardiola believes Rodri could be a top manager, but the Manchester City star wants to be a sporting director instead (Javier Garcia/REX/Shutterstock)

"He decides who is coming in, what is good for the team. In modern football, I think sporting directors are so important - key for me."

For now, though, Rodri remains a key figure in the centre of the park for City and Guardiola has hailed the Spaniard's development since joining the club from Atletico Madrid in 2019. "He is a really, really important player," Guardiola added.

"There are many thousands of reasons why sometimes it doesn’t work. Rodri was a young boy, but now with the experience and the games he has played, he has become a top-class player."

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Matthew Cooper