World Soccer Presents

World Soccer Presents is a bi-monthly souvenir bookazine collection from the team at Word Soccer magazine. Each issue provides expert analysis and insight into the world’s most popular sport, focusing on a specific theme, including, the world’s most important players, club, rivalries and tournaments.

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From the editor

World Soccer Presents

The making of a master • From La Masia graduate through to Barcelona player and captain, Pep Guardiola had already learned the basic Barca principles before embarking on a fledging coaching career that would eventually lead to him taking the top job at Camp Nou

Pep’s baptism of fire • Despite an air of excitement following Barcelona’s promotion of Guardiola from B-team boss to senior side manager in the summer of 2008, the inexperienced coach endured a rocky start at Camp Nou

Camp Nou revolution • In the space of just six months and despite an early blip, Guardiola had transformed Barcelona from a squad of underperformers into Europe’s most exciting team

Record breakers • Pep Guardiola’s first season as Barca coach ended in major success – the club clinched the 2008-09 La Liga title and confirmed their dominance with a 6-2 humiliation of rivals Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu

Masters of the universe • Just days after lifting the 2008-09 La Liga and Copa del Rey double, Barcelona capped off an incredible first season under Pep Guardiola by adding the Champions League crown to their trophy collection. Keir Radnedge saluted the club’s remarkable achievement in Rome

Guardiola the historyman

What he said

Six out of six • There was simply no let up in the silverware Guardiola was racking up while at the Barcelona helm, with the club adding the Club World Cup to their achievements from the 2008-09 season. But, as Sid Lowe would forecast, their recordbreaking 2009 would be very hard to repeat

Award accolades • After his unprecedented success in 2009, it was no surprise when Pep Guardiola scooped World Soccer’s Manager of the Year award, while his club made it a famous double by landing the Team of the Year gong

Pep v Jose #1 • The arrival of Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid in 2010 would see the beginning of an intense managerial rivalry. Mourinho had got the better of Guardiola earlier that year as coach of Internazionale, courtesy of a famous result at Camp Nou on his way to winning the Champions League. However, there was no doubting the victor in their first-ever encounter as head-to-head Clasico coaches

Triple La Liga champions • Guardiola basked in the glory of winning a third consecutive La Liga title in the summer of 2011 but, as Sid Lowe summarised, it was his toughest Spanish league title victory to date

Magical, masterful, mesmerising • Barcelona won a fourth Champions Cup in brilliant style in 2011, capping off another wonderful season with Lionel Messi and Pep Guardiola leading from the front. Keir Radnedge reported in awe from Wembley

What he said

Pep doubles up • After helping Barcelona clinch the Champions League and La Liga double in 2011, Pep Guardiola also achieved his very own personal double – winning World Soccer’s Manager of the Year award for the second time

Pep v Jose #2 • Barcelona won three La Liga titles in Guardiola’s first three seasons in charge at Camp Nou, but winds of change had begun to blow during Jose Mourinho’s second season as Real Madrid manager. However, after a blistering start to the 2011-12 season, and just when Real thought they had a chance of beating their eternal rivals, Barcelona and Pep reasserted their dominance

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