Pep Guardiola referenced Michael Jordan as one of his sporting idols in a fascinating admission.
Manchester City resume their Premier League campaign on Saturday when they travel to Fulham.
A victory at Craven Cottage would see the Blues climb above Arsenal to the top of the league ahead of the Gunners' fixture at Manchester United on Sunday.
Advert
And ahead of facing Marco Silva's side, Guardiola was asked about NBA legend Jordan being one of his inspirations in his career.
Asked why he was an inspiration, the 53-year-old replied: "When he [Michael Jordan] was playing in the 90s, I would wake up at 3 or 4am at Barcelona while my wife was sleeping and I was watching the TV, because I had the feeling that I would never see again."
The Spaniard also mentioned Tiger Woods as well as tennis greats Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
Advert
"This kind of charisma, this competitor, this level of skill all in one person to win many championships. Like Tiger Woods for example, or [Rafael] Nadal, [Roger] Federer, or [Novak] Djokovic, these athletes all have this one package," he added.
"You don't know if you'll see it again, so I don't want to miss it [sporting legends in action]. Like when Tiger [Woods] plays, I'm there; 18 holes or four days, I don't miss one shot because I don't think I'll see it again."
Jordan won an incredible six NBA championships during his legendary spell at Chicago Bulls.
Advert
He won three titles at the Bulls before transitioning to baseball. Upon returning to basketball, he won three more titles before calling time on his iconic career.
Guardiola has had a Jordan-like dominance in the Premier League as he looks to win his fourth title in a row this season.
He's chasing his sixth league title in England, having produced managerial heroics since his arrival.
Topics: Michael Jordan, Man City, Pep Guardiola, Football
Nasir Jabbar