WHEN PEP MET PADRAIC: INCREDIBLE LINK-UP BETWEEN MANAGERS AFTER CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCH
Galway GAA manager Pádraic Joyce appears to have a new fan in Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, after Man City’s latest Champions League match.
Pep, a Spanish manager whose playing career included with Barcelona and the Spanish national team, is the current manager of Man City following successful spells with Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
Now, it appears that he’s found a fan in the two-time All-Ireland winner turned manager of the Galway gaelic football team, Pádraic Joyce — who, alongside his family, grabbed a photo with the up and coming manager in Pep following Man City’s win over Borussia Dortmund.
People were astounded at what we can only assume was an exchange of tactics following the match, with a photo of the pair shaking hands doing the rounds on social media.
‘Watching TNT post-match and there’s Pádraic Joyce shaking Pep Guardiola’s hand. Two Greats,’ Ireland AM’s Daniel Hussey wrote on Twitter (X), while others were amused at what the pair could’ve possibly been talking about.
‘Pep to replace Divo on the Galway coaching ticket!’ one wrote, while another joked that Pádraic was asking Pep ‘”have you ever tried a Mighty Mac?”‘
Another was a bit more bleak of Galway’s chances at an All-Ireland, writing ‘I don’t think Pep can help Galway,’ while another joked ‘two All-Irelands between them.’
Pádraic won two All-Irelands as a player for Galway, before turning to managing, leading the county to two All-Ireland finals, losing to Kerry and Armagh in 2022 and 2024.
Earlier this year, his managerial tenure was extended to 2028 — which would see him stay in charge of the county for nine seasons.