“20 years of routine has saturated me” - Gerard Pique sheds light on possible return to Barcelona
Barcelona legend Gerard Pique shared his thoughts on a possible return to his boyhood club two years after retirement. The Spanish defender retired from professional football in November 2022. His last professional game was a 2-0 win over Almeria in LaLiga at home.
Having risen from the youth ranks of Barcelona's famed academy, La Masia, Gerard Pique rejoined the Catalan giants in 2008 after a brief stint at Manchester United (2004-2008). Pique remained at Barca between 2008 and 2022, winning three UEFA Champions League trophies, eight LaLiga titles, and seven Copa del Reys, among other honors. He recorded 53 goals and 13 assists in 616 appearances for the club across competitions.
In an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, Gerard Pique shed light on his possible plans of returning to Barcelona in another role. He said (via Football Espana):
“Later, perhaps, I will return to football doing something different. I’m not interested in being a coach, 20 years of routine has saturated me.
"I needed to change. Many years between Manchester United and Barcelona, playing every three days, ends up making you saturated. I have beautiful memories, I was lucky and I won a lot and I fulfilled my dream as a child, to play at the Camp Nou.”
Since his retirement, Pique has been serving as the CEO of the Kings League.
"We had incredible talents" - Gerard Pique recalled his time playing under Pep Guardiola at Barcelona
In his aforementioned interview with Corriere dello Sport, Gerard Pique recalled his experience of playing under Pep Guardiola at Barcelona. The Catalan tactician coached La Blaugrana between 2008 and 2012. Pique said (via Football Espana):
“We had incredible talents, but the most extraordinary thing was the combination with Pep. We arrived together, me as a player and him as a coach. There were Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Busquets, all made at La Masia. We had always known each other and everything was natural."
He continued:
"On a tactical and strategic level he is a genius, he knows how to read games, he gives you the necessary tools to attack and defend. And in the transmission of the motivational message he is unattainable, he kept our concentration high for years.”
Guardiola's stint at Barca is often considered the golden era of the club. The Catalan coach won the continental treble with La Blaugrana in the 2008-09 season. Overall, he won two UEFA Champions League trophies, three LaLiga titles, and two Copa del Reys, among other honors. He recorded 179 wins in 247 games at Barca.