Pep Guardiola’s passion for golf surpasses his interest in football, as he often engages in golf discussions rather than football talks. The Manchester City manager has developed a close friendship with professional golfer Tommy Fleetwood, bonding over their shared love for the sport.
During a game with Ryder Cup star Fleetwood in April 2018, Guardiola clinched his first title coinciding with a Manchester United defeat. Despite being a football fan, Guardiola and Fleetwood tend to delve more into each other’s respective sports, with Fleetwood humorously lamenting the lack of Premier League insights shared by Guardiola.
Acknowledging Guardiola as the greatest manager ever, Fleetwood revealed the one-sided nature of their exchanges, with Guardiola prioritizing golf discussions over imparting coaching wisdom. Despite this, Fleetwood has gleaned valuable insights from Guardiola’s coaching philosophies and professional approach, finding parallels between football management and golf training routines.
Fleetwood praised Guardiola’s perfectionist nature and highlighted his relentless pursuit of improvement in both golf and coaching. Reflecting on Guardiola’s golf skills, Fleetwood noted his coach’s continuous quest for enhancement rather than settling for his current abilities.
Interestingly, golf boasts a significant following among football personalities, with Rory McIlroy supporting Manchester United, Justin Rose rooting for Chelsea, and Ian Poulter being an avid Arsenal fan. Responding to inquiries on the biggest football fan in golf, Fleetwood cited several Liverpool supporters, including Ludwig Aberg, with whom he enjoys discussing football developments.
In the realm of sports personalities, the crossover between football and golf continues to foster intriguing connections and shared passions.