Van Bronckhorst Names Guardiola As His Managerial Idol

Giovanni Van Bronckhorst has named Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola as his managerial idol and reveals his long-term dream of managing in the Premier League.

Van Bronckhorst Names Guardiola As His Managerial Idol
Van Bronckhorst Names Guardiola As His Managerial Idol

 

The Dutchman previously studied Guardiola’s style for five months at the Etihad Stadium during a sabbatical to help shape his coaching perspicacity.

The 45-year-old had the privilege of meeting the Spanish coach during the 2017-2018 Champions League group stages, where Guardiola’s City overcame Van Bronckhorst’s Feyenoord side.

The former Netherlands captain visited several clubs within the City Football Group (CFG) to gain more experience but admits his time with the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach was the best.

"Last year I spent five months with the City group and a lot of time in Manchester with Pep," Van Bronckhorst told Sky Sports News.

"He was very open. He talked about the training sessions and I could watch and see everything and talk with his staff.”

"Those are moments you can see him really in action and he is a very special coach. Those months with him in Manchester I could see a lot of things I didn't see before and it helped to develop me as a coach.

"Pep is a coach at the moment who is influencing a lot of young coaches. And he's not the only one, Jurgen Klopp is doing a great job at Liverpool.”

Van Bronckhorst is the current manager of Chinese Super League side Guangzhou RF, but has revealed his long-term ambition is to coach in the Premier League.

"At the moment I'm enjoying my work in China," he added.

"But as a player I had ambition and as a coach I have ambition. The Premier League for me is the number one league in the world to be working at and, for me, it is definitely an ambition to work in.

"I always said if I could coach the teams I played for it would be a big dream."

During his playing days, Van Bronckhorst played for the likes of Rangers, Arsenal and Barcelona. He won many trophies including the Premier League, La Liga and the 2006 Champions League.