The football community recently saw an odd occasion when renowned Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was included in a widely shared video, when he was seen giving a cheeky "singing" homage at FC Barcelona's 125th anniversary celebration. This surprising performance coincided with his own team's on-field difficulties.
Big names like Frank Rijkaard, Frenkie de Jong, Hristo Stoichkov, and Pedri were among the Barcelona veterans and current players that attended the ceremony to honor the club's rich heritage. Sadly for Guardiola supporters, the tactical genius was unable to attend in person because of his urgent responsibilities in Manchester, which is where he just agreed to sign a two-year contract renewal.
Even though he wasn't there, the Catalan manager made sure to say how much he loved the team that helped to build his career as a manager and player. Guardiola joined FC Barcelona after graduating from the renowned La Masia program in 1991. He played for the team for 10 years, making 384 games, scoring 11 goals, and dishing out 56 assists.
Pep Guardiola sings on the 125th anniversary of FC Barcelona
The ecstatic crowd inside the Gran Teatre del Liceu saw a pre-recorded film of Guardiola. The 53-year-old took a hilarious turn, imitating the Catalan band Manel's song 'Aniversari', rather than just giving a meaningful message. As he finished his one-minute homage, the audience cheered and applauded enthusiastically, despite the lip-sync performance.
Guardiola is reported to carry a special place in his heart for this specific song. During his incredible tenure at Barcelona, which spanned from 2008 to 2012, Guardiola managed an astounding 247 games and amassed an incredible 2.36 points per game while guiding some of the best football players in history, including the renowned Lionel Messi. His reign was marked by an astounding variety of trophies, including three La Liga crowns, two titles, and a trio of Spanish Super Cup victories. It was not just about statistics.