He made his name as a midfield general for FC Barcelona in the 1990s. But Guardiola’s true calling, it seems, is getting the best out of players as their coach. In his first season in top-flight football management, Guardiola led Barça to the Champions League, Copa del Rey and Liga titles - losing his hair in the process. In the two seasons since, he has won a pair of league titles and the European crown again, relegating Real Madrid to also-ran status. Few soccer jobs are as intense or demanding, especially when you throw in the fact that FC Barcelona is a flagship for the restive Catalan nation. As a former Barça player and a Catalan, Guardiola knows this better than anyone, making his … [Read more...] about Pep Guardiola
spanish sports stars
Alberto Contador
Those seeking a role model might baulk at the three-time Tour de France winner being included on a list of sports stars. There was his unseemly via-the-media spat with Lance Armstrong during and after the 2009 Tour and then an ethically questionable breakaway from rival Andy Schleck during the 2010 race, just after the Luxembourg rider’s chain came loose. And let’s not forget the clenbuterol doping case from the same year hanging over this cyclist from Pinto, Madrid, who insists he tested positive after eating some contaminated meat. But if you had to choose the world’s most talented road racer, especially if you throw some mountains into the mix, then Contador’s your man. … [Read more...] about Alberto Contador
Pedro de la Rosa
Pedro who? Yes, De la Rosa is known as much for his career as a test driver for the likes of McLaren and Sauber as he is for his occasional appearances as a competitive Formula 1 driver. The extremely talented but uncharismatic Fernando Alonso is a more obvious choice if you’re looking for a Spanish motor racing star. But in a sport where being a self-obsessed, whingeing playboy is virtually in the job description, De la Rosa has always displayed a refreshingly down-to-earth attitude and saint-like patience as he plays second fiddle to the big names. … [Read more...] about Pedro de la Rosa
Marta Domínguez
Long-distance runner Domínguez has won a steady stream of medals at major competitions ever since taking bronze at the 1998 European championships in the 5,000 metres. Probably the high-point of her career came 11 years later, when she won the 3,000-metre steeplechase gold at the Berlin World championships. The low point was in 2010, when she was arrested for allegedly peddling illegal substances as part of a massive doping ring. But she notched up another victory a few months later, being cleared of wrongdoing and exposing the Guardia Civil as a band of confused Keystone Kops. … [Read more...] about Marta Domínguez
Rafa Nadal
Spain’s best tennis player ever. The greatest clay court player the world has seen. The man who dethroned Roger Federer at his peak. All true, but equally so is the fact that Rafa remains utterly focused and almost painfully modest. On the tennis court, he’s a fist-pumping, grunting primate with a bandana and wicked ground-strokes; off it, he’s a quietly spoken Majorcan who looks like he can never quite believe what he’s achieved. … [Read more...] about Rafa Nadal