Pep isn’t the first boss to get political

PEP GUARDIOLA sparked a backlash in Spain for giving a pro-catalan independence speech to a 40,000strong rally in which he accused the Spanish state of carrying out “political persecution”. Madrid-based politicians and commentators hit back, reminding him how he wore the Spanish shirt 48 times, telling him politics and football management don’t mix, and arguing he should get back to his day job at Manchester City. The thing is, they’re wrong. Politics and football management definitely do mix and here are four examples: Matt Busby (whose grandad was a prominent trade unionist) took part in the 1926 General Strike and had his philosophy shaped by it. Bill Shankly (above) spoke openly of being a socialist, famously saying: “The socialism I believe in is everybody working for the same goal and everybody having a share in the rewards. That’s how I see football, that’s how I see life.” Brian Clough turned up on miners’ picket lines, campaigned for the Labour Party and twice considered standing as an MP. And Alex Ferguson actively took part in Labour election campaigns throughout his career. With five European Cups, 23 English league titles and nine FA Cups between them as managers, those four didn’t do too badly being involved in politics. As Pep himself hasn’t. Rather than stay out of politics, maybe more managers should get into it. Maybe their desire for collective responsibility and passion for action might rub off on their players.