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Anthony Gharib, ESPN
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla met with a special guest Wednesday before the 2024 NBA Finals — Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
Mazzulla, a noted soccer fan, visited Guardiola at Manchester City’s football academy in February. He told The Athletic a week later that he studies the English club and Guardiola, calling the City boss “the best coach at any level, in any sport.”
The two were spotted chatting at TD Garden ahead of Game 1 on Thursday.
Guardiola is one of soccer’s most decorated managers, having served as the head man at multiple top clubs, including Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
He’s won six Premier League titles (including four straight), four UEFA Super Cups and three UEFA Champions League titles. In 2009, at 37 years old, he led Barcelona to a Champions League final triumph, becoming the youngest manager to ever win the Champions League.
The former midfielder also won the treble (domestic league, domestic cup and European Cup/Champions League in the same season) twice as a manager — the only one to ever do so.
Mazzulla is looking for his first title as an NBA head coach, with Game 1 tipping off on Thursday (8:30 p.m. EST on ABC).
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