Guardiola suggests playing career is not necessary to become good trainer

In regards to the notion of needing to have had a successful playing career to be a manager, Arrigo Sacchi coined the phrase "you didn't need to be a horse to be a jockey".

Pep Guardiola had a standout playing career for Barcelona prior to becoming their manager, but he agrees with the fact that a career as a player is not a requirement to being a successful coach - using Jose Mourinho as an example.

"It is not necessary to have played football to become a great coach," he is quoted by AS as saying. "Arrigo Sacchi changed this sport without having played and Jose Mourinho is probably the best coach in the world. Having been in a dressing room gives you advantages in certain situations, but not having been in one also gives you other advantages."

The 40-year-old Guardiola took charge of the Catalan side's senior squad in 2008, with his 12 titles conquered to date making him the most successful coach in the history of the club.

Despite enjoying success as a midfielder in the '90s, Guardiola stressed that a career as a player is not a requirement to be a successful trainer, giving the example of the man on the bench at Santiago Bernabeu.