On August 19th, The New York Times published an article discussing how Pep Guardiola and Lorenzo Maresca, two Premier League managers, along with players such as Salah, Alexander-Arnold, and Olmo, have benefited from chess.
In the first round of the Premier League, Manchester City easily defeated Chelsea 2-0. The New York Times noted a common interest between Manchester City’s manager Guardiola and Chelsea’s manager Maresca, their shared love for chess: “Both managers have drawn many beneficial insights from chess.”
In 2012, after leaving Barcelona, Guardiola went on vacation to New York where he met with Russian grandmaster Garry Kasparov. He also studied another grandmaster, Magnus Carlsen. A famous quote by Carlsen resonated deeply with Guardiola: “Carlsen said something I really like, that it doesn’t matter if you have to make some sacrifices in the early stages of the game, because it ensures that you become stronger later on. I also think about how to apply this in football.”
Maresca’s thesis for obtaining his coaching qualifications included a significant section on chess. Maresca stated: “Playing chess can train a coach’s mind, helping them understand and predict their opponent’s next move. The chessboard is like a football field, which can be divided into the center and two wings; there are similarities.”
Moreover, players including Salah, Olmo, Pulisic, and Alexander-Arnold have also gained valuable insights from chess that benefit their football careers.
New York Times: Guardiola, Maresca, and Multiple Players Gain Football Insights from Chess. Author：Sports UEFA.Please indicate the source when reproduced：https://www.sportsuefa.com/football-world/30991.html
