FCBARCELONA.CAT

04.07.2009 18:02

From captains to coaches

Jaume Marcet

Parallel destinies. From wearing the captain’s armband to sitting on the bench. Guardiola, Luis Enrique and Sergi, Puyol’s predecessors as captains, have taken similar paths after hanging up their boots. All three moved on to coach at FC Barcelona.

Being a Barça captain obviously also means being a committed leader. These are the kind of values a coach needs, and Guardiola, Luis Enrique and Sergi have all demonstrated such qualities as they have progressed from being players to coaches.

Winning mentalities

Guardiola was the first when he started coaching Barça B. Before, he had been captain of Barça from 1997 to 2001 winning two Leagues and one Copa del Rey. Once he had retired from playing football, he took over the Third Division outfit in 2007/08 and guided them to promotion.

Guardiola then went on to take over from Rijkaard as first team manager at the Camp Nou. And he led the club to its most successful season ever, winning the League, Cup and Champions League treble.

Second experience

Guardiola was replaced as reserves manager by a charismatic person, Luis Enrique, who was team captain from 2002 to 2004. He took over the team that had been renamed Barça Atlètic. Transmitting his knowledge to the young players he took them to fifth in the table, just one point short of the play offs.

Number three

Sergi Barjuan was captain in his final season at Barça, 2001/02, before leaving for Atletico Madrid and passing the captain’s baton on to Luis Enrique. And he now joins the club’s coaching staff, though dealing with a level neither Luis or Pep ever coached, the Juvenil B youth team, which until now was managed by the man who has been promoted to the A team at the same level , García Pimienta.