Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has a strong passion for golf, often prioritizing discussions about his golf swing over football. He has developed a close friendship with professional golfer Tommy Fleetwood, with whom he enjoys spending time both on and off the golf course.
Guardiola and Fleetwood bonded during a round of golf in April 2018, coinciding with a Manchester United loss that led Guardiola to clinch a title. Despite being an Everton fan, Guardiola and Fleetwood prefer to engage in conversations about each other’s respective sports rather than sharing Premier League secrets.
According to Fleetwood, Guardiola’s focus on golf is so intense that he rarely responds to football-related questions and is more interested in perfecting his golf swing. Despite Guardiola’s reputation as one of the greatest football managers, Fleetwood humorously mentions the lack of reciprocal advice exchange between them due to Guardiola’s golf fixation.
Guardiola’s dedication to golf has not gone unnoticed by Fleetwood, who acknowledges learning valuable insights from the manager’s coaching and managerial philosophies. Fleetwood admires Guardiola’s perfectionist approach, highlighting the transferable aspects of Guardiola’s training methods and professionalism to the realm of golf.
In a light-hearted manner, Fleetwood points out Guardiola’s constant pursuit of improvement in his golf game, emphasizing his relentless drive for excellence. The golfing world is no stranger to football enthusiasts, with notable players like Rory McIlroy supporting Manchester United, Justin Rose endorsing Chelsea, and Ian Poulter being a fervent Arsenal supporter.
When asked about the most ardent football fan among golfers, Fleetwood mentioned several Liverpool supporters, singling out Ludwig Aberg as a passionate fan. He enjoys engaging in conversations about football with Aberg and other football-loving golfers, highlighting the camaraderie between sports fans across different disciplines.