Mikel Arteta, Vincent Kompany, Xavi Hernandez: How Pep Guardiola Shaped Young Managers

• Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola might have moulded future success stories
• He remains one of the best managers alongside Sir Alex Ferguson and Ancelotti
• Mikel Arteta, Vincent Kompany and Xavi Hernandez all lead a respective league

Pep Guardiola has mastered the art of coaching in the same way Stephen Curry has mastered the art of hitting three-pointers from downtown, or how Novak Djokovic has mastered the art of 'return of serve.'

In the 14 seasons he has been in management, the Spanish manager has won 10 league titles in three different countries.

It is no surprise that he is regarded as one of the greatest coaches ever - the GOAT of coaches whose only undoing is not winning the Champions League without Lionel Messi.

But that minor issue aside, Guardiola has managed to inadvertently school and mentor the next clique of managers. His abrasive and open nature on training grounds and on the touchline have seemingly generated successful managers.

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Sports Brief takes a look at how the 52-year-old has shaped a number of coaches who are currently ruling their respective leagues.

Mikel Arteta

The 2022/2023 season will perhaps be a case of an apprentice beating the master at his own game. Bar Eddie Howe, no other manager deserves plaudits this season like Mikel Arteta.

Arteta has transformed the Gunners from an eighth-place team to a Europa League team to title contenders in the space of three months.

He was equally a successful footballer during his days, but it is the three years he worked under Guardiola at Man City that made him who he is today.

He is on the verge of becoming the youngest manager ever to win the Premier League title. But first, he will need to beat his mentor twice to achieve that.

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Whether or not he wins the league, Arteta has already proven he is a success story and at only 40 years, he can get only get better.

Xavi Hernandez

Unlike Arteta, Xavi Hernandez gobbled down copious amounts of the Guardiola handbook of tactical masterclass while playing for him.

Xavi was the core of the Barcelona team that ruled Europe between 2009 and 2011, winning the unprecedented sextuple in 2009.

After retiring, he began his coaching voyage in the Middle East, before coming back home and taking over an under-fire La Blaugrana.

Messi had done a wonderful job of shielding Barcelona from the ills of Josep Bartomeu. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner always put in performances to lift the Spanish giants above the malfunctions of the administrators.

But when Xavi came back, he didn't have Messi, just young players mixed with the old guard he played with and a debt-ridden club that could barely sign new players without some serious sacrifices.

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One year later, the 43-year-old has led his side to their first trophy in the post-Messi era. He is also leading Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid in the La Liga title race.

And even better, he has reincarnated the chemistry he had with Andres Iniesta under Guardiola by trusting Pedri and Gavi.

European football might still be a tall order for him, but he is yet to put his foot wrong domestically.

Vincent Kompany

When the story of the captains who worked under Guardiola will be written, Kompany will rank very highly, perhaps eclipsed only by Carles Puyol.

For what he lacked in his technical ability, the Belgian compensated maximumly with his leadership prowess.

Echoes of the bullet of a shot he sent past Leicester's Kasper Schmeichel to win the 2018/2019 title ring in the ears as this report is written.

Now at Burnley and with the least experience compared to the first two, Kompany is spearheading the return of the Clarets back to the Premier League one season after they dropped out.

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Things are looking bright for them, leading the pack with a five-point lead after 28 games. They last dropped points on November 5 last year.

What a sight it would be to have two of Guardiola's 'sons' in the Premier League next season, plus the father!

They might have honed their managerial skills elsewhere, but the coincidence is too big to ignore. They all, at one point, passed through Guardiola's hands.

It is clear the Spaniard doesn't just light his own room, he passes the matchbox for others to light their own rooms as well - a true legend.

Pep blasts his players

Sports Brief had earlier reported on Guardiola delivering a scathing interview minutes after his side recorded an epic comeback to beat Tottenham Hotspur.

Manchester City came from two goals down at half-time to beat Spurs 4-2 at the Etihad Stadium on January 19. The win cut Arsenal's lead at the top to five points.

The defending champions were stunned by two quickfire goals at the end of the first half from Dejan Kulusevski and Emerson Royal, before a spirited comeback.