Koeman: I was Guardiola's mentor at Barcelona
Ronald Koeman has revealed that he took a young Pep Guardiola under his wing at Barcelona after his compatriot and boss at the time, the late, great Johan Cruyff, identified him as a boy which a "quick brain."
Guardiola roomed with Koeman, one of the finest players on the planet at the time, and showed a great appetite to learn more about the game. The two will pit their coaching talents against one another next Saturday, when Ronald's Everton visits Pep's Manchester City in the latest round of Premier League fixtures.
"Cruyff had seen this young player in the academy, seen him develop into a decent player in the reserves and he thought the time was there to draft him into the first-team squad," said Koeman, according to The Mirror's Simon Mullock.
"According to Cruyff this boy was very bright, he had a quick brain and he needed a more experienced player to look after him. I told him it was fine (to have him as my roommate)."
Koeman was well versed in the teachings of Total Football, the fluid tactical philosophy popularised by Dutch duo Rinus Michels and Cruyff, and this is an aspect that fascinated Guardiola. The opportunity to live in such close quarters with the defender-cum-midfielder was obviously a thrill too, given his lofty regard in the game.
"(Cruyff) told me I was going to be his tutor, help him develop and make sure he learns the Dutch style of playing," Koeman continued. "I then spent several years with Pep in hotel rooms before every game, every trip - in preseason, in Europe, you name it.
"Pep was a fantastic guy. He was eager to learn, he wanted to know everything. Pep wanted to know about the Dutch school of football. More than any other player he wanted to know about one-touch football, about positional play, one touch in small spaces. He loved the way Cruyff wanted to play with Barcelona."
Related - Guardiola: I owe my success to Cruyff
Somewhat inevitable in today's celebrity-obsessed culture, people are fascinated with Guardiola's personality beyond the technical area - how he conducts his man management, and even lives his personal life. In a rare glimpse of Guardiola's true character, Koeman states that back then he was a normal character with no evidence of a high self-regard.
"What struck me with Pep was that he was a very ordinary, down-to-earth guy. He never had arrogant streaks. He did not behave like a star because he was playing for Barcelona - he was driving a second-hand Golf when he came in the squad and after three years in the first team, he was still driving the same car."
City's title drive has sputtered somewhat since last Sunday's 2-0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur, and it will look to put its race back on track in the hosting of Everton.