New Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola credits his Barcelona mentor, Johan Cruyff, for inspiring him and being his mentor.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss took his first Premier League job on a three-year contract.
He has won two Champions Leagues and three La Liga titles at Barca, and three Bundesliga titles as Bayern boss, and he says that Cruyff's advice has helped him put together winning teams.
"The influence I've had from Johan and other coaches is huge," Guardiola told the Cruyff institute. "The influence of Johan especially, because he was the one I shared most time with, was very important in my becoming the coach I am."
Cruyff, who died in March at age 68 after a battle with cancer, was a three-time Ballon d'Or winner who found his greatest success as a manager. He steered Barca to four league titles and their first ever European Cup during his eight years in charge, as well as laying the foundations for their heavy focus on youth development and defining a style of play that ran through all levels at the club.
Guardiola was given his debut by Cruyff in 1990 after graduating from the youth academy.
"The most important thing is he understood that behind a football, basketball or tennis player is a man or a woman like you and me, with feelings, fears and joys," Guardiola said. "People do not care what I did as a player, not even what I did last year, but what I am now. While you are an active athlete you have to prepare for what's coming, to do something different."
Guardiola stressed that coaching is about building trust.
"In the end, a leader is a person you follow for no real reason. They follow you because they believe in you. And that is our dream as coaches, but I must admit it isn't easy; sometimes you are not able to do it," he said.
"Johan Cruyff painted the chapel, and Barcelona coaches since merely restore or improve it," Guardiola told the Manchester City website.