Does anyone know the Spanish word for “Spygate”?
Former Barcelona manager and Bayern Munich boss-in-waiting Pep Guardiola, hired private investigation firm Metodo 3 to spy on several star players in an effort to “ensure club harmony,” according to FOX Sports.
With the help of then Barcelona director of security Xavier Martorell, Guardiola enlisted detectives from Metodo 3 to document what his players were up to in their personal lives between 2008 and 2012.
“During the time that Pep managed the ‘Azulgranas’ first team he developed a good understanding and friendship with Martorell, who willingly helped Guardiola to be informed at all times,” the report states.
Included on the list of those monitored were top-flight players such as Ronaldinho, Deco, Samuel Eto’o, and current Barcelona defender Gerard Pique.
Guardiola took a particular interest in spying on Pique after he began dating Colombian pop starlet Shakira. The couple recently welcomed their first child, a son named Milan Pique.
When he’s not busy spying, Guardiola is pretty good at managing soccer teams. In 2008, his first year in charge of Barcelona, Guardiola helped the team win Spanish soccer’s triple crown: the Copa del Rey, La Liga and the UEFA Champions League — the first time this feat had ever been achieved.
In 2011, Guardiola received the FIFA World Coach of the Year award, then promptly quit as Barcelona manager following the 2011-12 season, after earning 14 trophies in just four short years with the team. Before that, Guardiola also played midfield for Barcelona between 1990 and 2001.
Guardiola will succeed current Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes, who is set to retire after this season. Bayern’s talented squad will soon be learning a lot from Guardiola, but a word of advice for now: close your curtains.
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Photo via Twitter/Sir_WaLeeD
