The Spanish City

The Manchester Blue team can be tagged with Spanish City, a registered trademark in its day by the Spanish Liverpool. It was in 2005, when Anfield celebrated the Champions 21 years later with a Spaniard on the bench, Rafa Benítez, and five short, Luis García, Xabi Alonso, Josemi, Antonio Núñez and Morientes.

Ferran Soriano, CEO of the City, laid the foundations in 2012 for a Spanish community that after eight years has grown remarkably. His arrival promoted that of many Spaniards. The first, also the most relevant to understand the foundations of the best stage in the history of the entity, was Txiki Begiristain, sports director.

From them, and especially with the signing of Guardiola in 2016, two ways were opened to enter Etihad, the executive and the sports. For the first they agreed Jorge Chumillas as economic boss, after having been with Soriano at Spanair. At the same time Nuria Tarré, the boss of Marketing. In that same department we must highlight Anna Gil, supported by Ariadna Geli (nicknamed Princess) and Anna Palà.

Another essential figure is that of Omar Berrada, Soriano's right hand man. Although he was born in Morocco, those who know him say that he must be included in this group because he works as a Spaniard and feels Barcelona. For this project he left his home, Barça, after seven years.

In the Spanish wing of communication is directed by Carlos Vicente, a diligent and kind and educated guy until when it would be understood that he was not. When Guardiola landed, he acted as translator until they decided to put an end to this healthy habit of asking questions in Spanish. Cesc Guimerà carries the page in Catalan and the Valencian Xavi Heras is on City TV, like Eduard Duran, content producers.

Pep's coaching staff

By the soccer route better known names come out. Of course the Manel Estiarte, inseparable from Guardiola. And Loren Buenaventura's, the first contract (Estiarte's is taken for granted) that Pep always negotiates when he changes clubs.

Among the other trusted men of Guardiola we must put Xabier Mancisidor, goalkeeper coach who came with him, or Carles Planchart, in tasks of scouting with the coach from Barça B. They say that he remembers every tactical detail of each game: the coach asks him for a specific element from years ago and immediately finds it in his head and rescues it for the occasion.

It has become strong Marc Boixasa, delegate of the first team that it had been from the subsidiary until Txiki 'uploaded it' to Pep. A singular case is that of Rodolfo Borrell, who was previously Guardiola in the quarry and, from helping around Santpedor's team, they proposed to stay in the coaching staff, with special attention to the base. The departure of Mikel Arteta amounted to second coach, current position of Juanma Lillo, the latest addition. “My relationship with Pep comes from many years ago and I am very happy to join him as part of this magnificent team,” he declared in June.

For important topics, an eminence, Dr. Ramon Cugat. Ferran Soriano assigned him to the health area as an external consultant, but with Guardiola he has gained presence. Edu Mauri is the doctor of the staff and the Asturian (from Mieres) Edu Álvarez, intimate of David Silva, one of his eight physios.

Total, a family of 24 Spaniards, plus the Eric García, Rodrigo Hernández and Silva, who together with the English locals and other foreigners help build the success of this Manchester City.