A MODERN DAY SIDDHARTHA

Just when Barca fans thought that things could not get any worse, our coach Pep Guardiola announced that he was leaving the club last Friday.  This announcement did not come as a complete surprise since Pep has stipulated that he have one-year contracts with the club since he became coach.  This season, in recent weeks, Pep has shown particular strain .

Guardiola's record in four years at Barcelona is unrivaled. In 243 games during his era, Barca won 176, tied 46, and lost just 21. During that time, the team won 13 trophies out of 16 competitions in which they participated.  These trophies include three consecutive Spanish League titles, two European Championships in three years, and two Club World Cup Championships in three years.   Despite (or rather because) of that success, the pressure to win every single game became enormous.  When one plays a game every three days each year because one is vying for so many titles in so many competitions, such expectations become even more untenable.

Guardiola cited the stress of his position rather than failures in several of this year's competitions as the reason for his departure, and one cannot begrudge him.  His joy had left him despite being surrounded by the world's best players, a supportive front office, and a generous salary.  His break is well-deserved.

However, despite leaving the club, Guardiola's legacy will endure.  His assistant coach Tito Villanova has been named the new coach, and these men share the same love of the game and philosophy of play.  

The Barca style is so distinctive - it looks like a symphony on grass.  I was drawn to this sweet music the very first time when I watched Spain play in the World Cup.  Only later would I realize that Barca was the inspiration for this quick-passing, fluid style of play and that Guardiola was its composer.  While this style of play began under his Guardiola's coach at Barca, Johan Cruyff, it is said that Guardiola perfected it.  

Results speak volumes, and it is hard to disagree with Pep's record and the number of soccer acolytes whom he has inspired. However, Pep's take was decidely non-teleological at his press conference announcing his departure. When he described his tenure as coach, he said, "‘I don’t remember any single title, rather the emotion I shared with my players... more than about the results, I'm satisfied about the way we have done it." 

Well said, maestro. Spoken like a modern day Siddhartha.