Joe Mazzulla, the newly appointed head coach of the Boston Celtics, finds inspiration in the career trajectory of Pep Guardiola, the renowned football manager. Mazzulla stepped into his first senior coaching role after the suspension of former Celtics coach, Ime Udoka. Similarly, Guardiola was catapulted from his position with Barcelona's B team to the senior team, marking the beginning of a highly successful coaching career. Their similar beginnings have not gone unnoticed by either coach.
Before his elevation to the Celtics, Mazzulla was coaching Maine's G League team. His journey mirrors that of Guardiola, who transitioned from Barcelona's reserve setup to manage their first team. The Celtics are favorites for the 2025 championship, a testament to Mazzulla's growing reputation as one of the NBA's most respected coaches. Meanwhile, Guardiola's Manchester City is navigating a challenging season, with their hold on the Premier League title slipping.
Despite their shared starting points, Guardiola boasts an illustrious record: three LaLiga titles with Barcelona, seven Premier League wins with Manchester City, three Bundesliga championships with Bayern Munich, and three Champions League victories. Mazzulla, in contrast, achieved his first championship win in his second full season with the Celtics. Nonetheless, he views Guardiola's career as a guide.
"It became really a roadmap to how I wanted to go about building a culture, a team, and you know, taking over greatness."
- Joe Mazzulla
Mazzulla and Guardiola's paths crossed at City's training ground in February and again at the TD Garden ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals. These meetings allowed Mazzulla to seek advice from Guardiola, gaining insights into managing a successful team.
"Obviously, nowhere near the manager that Pep is but we share a similar beginning."
- Joe Mazzulla
Mazzulla acknowledges Guardiola's vast experience and respects the seasoned coach's advice on maintaining longevity and adaptability in a demanding profession.
"He has seen all those steps, and it just gives you great perspective as to: Okay, if you're gonna do this for a long time, here's what to expect, here's how to adapt and here's how to look at it."
- Joe Mazzulla
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