5 reasons why Pep Guardiola should move back to Barcelona

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 06:  Josep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City gives his team instructions during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium on May 6, 2017 in Manchester, England.  (Photo by Dave Thompson/Getty Images)
Pep Guardiola has had a mixed season at Manchester City

#3 He knows the club inside out

20 Dec 2000: Josep Guardiola of Barcelona in action during the Primera Liga match between Barcelona and Alaves played at the Nou Camp in Barcelona. Mandatory Credit: Allsport UK/ALLSPORT
Pep had a successful playing stint at Barcelona before his side dominated club football

For Real Madrid, the process of hiring a manager is often exceedingly simple. Go out, get the best available manager in the world, done. But for Barcelona, things are slightly more complicated. As Gerardo Martino found out the hard way, things are not easy in Catalonia if you are not part of the club's illustrious history.

Barcelona often seek managers who know the club inside out. This is the reason Everton's Ronald Koeman continues to be linked very heavily to the post that will be vacant at the end of the season. Sure, they can hire Jorge Sampaoli if he doesn't join Argentina – but it would not be a universally welcomed decision.

Guardiola joined La Masia at the age of 13, rose through the ranks at the youth academy and played for them till the age of 30. He captained Barcelona for four years before leaving, and was one of the first names on the teamsheet during Barcelona's golden era under Johan Cruyff. No one embodies Barcelona like Guardiola does – perhaps not even his mentor and idol, the legendary Cruyff.

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