Leading from the Back: Steph on talking tactics with Pep | OneFootball

Steph Houghton talks through some of her recent chats with Pep Guardiola in her new autobiography, Leading from the Back.

Our legendary former captain’s book was released on Thursday 7 November and is available to purchase in all major bookshops as well as the City Store.

Extracts from the Club legend’s book will be published on mancity.com and the official Man City app over the coming days, with Steph having already reflected on her move to the Joie Stadium in 2014.

But in the latest excerpt, she moves from the start of her City career to the end, with a look towards life after calling time on her playing career.

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Among other commitments, the former Blues defender is currently undertaking her UEFA A Coaching Licence, something which she’s spoken to Pep Guardiola about in recent months.

Indeed, as Houghton reveals in the below extract, the City boss has offered her the chance to witness first team training should she decide to pursue a career in the dugout.

Read the full extract below…

“Pep Guardiola arrived in 2016 to manage the men’s team, and I had been there for his unveiling, which was huge.

“Our paths crossed over the years, but I remember one day I had to go to the men’s side of the building to use a machine they had in the gym. The receptionist came in and told me Pep wanted to see me. Because I knew her, I thought she was joking. She was adamant that she wasn’t, and that I had to go to his office. I didn’t even know where his office was. She had to tell me. I went up and knocked on his door, and he invited me in. There was a tactics board in there, with the instructions for the next game, which was against Everton, and a load of family photos. I couldn’t really believe I was in there.

“He said he was reaching out to see how I was, how things were over on the women’s side, and he said he’d watched us the other day and I’d played really well. He then asked me if I’d ever thought about being a coach or a manager. I told him I wasn’t really sure, and he said that I had to do it. He said he could see me being that and I just thought, well, if Pep Guardiola, one of the best managers there’s ever been, thinks that, then I’d better start doing my coaching badges.

“He also asked me how Stephen was doing, which meant a lot. For him to know his name, it was really personal. We then had a chat about the upcoming game, which was the next day, and ran through what the men were going to do and how they were going to approach it. He asked for my opinion, and I didn’t really know what to say because he’s the best in the world. He also said if I ever need any help his door was open.

“Just before I retired, we were training and he came to watch. The levels went through the roof! He asked me to come over and he congratulated me on my retirement. For everything he has won, he is such a humble and normal person. He said again, if I needed him, he was always there. I told him I was doing my coaching badges, and he invited me to come and study what they did next season. ‘Come with me and learn,’ he said. How do you say no to that? So while I can’t tell you how this next year will look, that’s definitely something I will be doing.

“I’m often asked what I’m going to do next. You look at people like my old friend Jill Scott, who’s doing everything and was even Queen of the Jungle, but I’m not sure that will be me! It’s a bit scary, isn’t it? I’ve been told to keep my options open for as long as I possibly can. But, honestly, I still don’t really know what I want to do. I know I’ve got opportunities, so it’s for me to embrace them and try different things, because all I’ve known is a pitch and a ball.

“I’ll 1,000,000% take Pep up on his offer. Even if I don’t go into coaching, to be able to watch him at close quarters and feel part of it is something you have to do. I’ve done newspaper columns and punditry, which is an option, and I do like the idea of being a sporting director one day. I’m doing my A Licence, which hopefully I’ll complete this year. If I do go down the coaching route I’d want to learn from a senior coach, assist and find my way. Whether that’s in the men’s or women’s game, it doesn’t really matter, to be honest.”

Another Leading from the Back extract will be available to view on the morning of Friday 8 November, with Steph recounting her experiences of training with a young Phil Foden during his time in City’s youth system.