Did you know that before they became rival managers, José Mourinho and Pep Guardiola worked together at Barcelona?

Mourinho was a member of the club's coaching staff between 1996 and 2000, while Pep was a first-team player, and they reportedly had a close relationship.

After leaving Chelsea in 2008, it was reported that Barcelona wanted to hire Mourinho as manager. But it was Guardiola who got the job in the end. Mourinho, on the other hand, denied the report, saying he was never close to becoming Barcelona manager.

Their first meeting as managers was a 0-0 draw in the 2009-10 UCL group stage between Mourinho's Inter and Pep's Barcelona. The rematch was won by Barcelona 2-0.

Both managers met again in the same competition's semi-finals, with Inter winning 3-2 on aggregate.

Their rivalry peaked in 2010 when Mourinho was appointed manager of Real Madrid while Pep was still at Barcelona. During that time, they faced each other 11 times.

Following their "El Classico" rivalry, they met again in the 2013 UEFA Super Cup, with Pep's Bayern Munich defeating Mourinho's Chelsea on penalties 5-4.

Their rivalry was reignited in the summer of 2016 when both Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho joined Manchester City and Manchester United, respectively. Both managers faced each other six times in the Manchester Derby before Mourinho joined Spurs and faced Pep's Manchester City three times.

Both managers have faced each other 25 times, with Pep winning 12 times, Mourinho winning 7 times, and 6 draws.

Despite their perceived rivalry, Mourinho revealed that they still communicate, have a good relationship, and reached out to each other when both of their parents died.

https://www.solutionreporters.com/2023/01/10/jose-mourinho-and-pep-guardiola-worked-together-at-barcelona/