Abomination: Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola convert to Muslims and reveal his new name

The Muslim Premier League with Pep Guardiola topping the log

Our rundown of the best Muslim footballers in the country

Last season a Muslim player won the EPL golden boot for the first time since Nicolas Anelka in the 2008/09 season. With Muslim players taking the League by storm, we’ve compiled the definitive list of the top ten Muslims plying their trade in England’s top tier in 2018/19.

10. Benjamin Mendy, 24 – Manchester City

Might have been higher on the list if long-term injury hadn’t scuppered his strong start to last season. He’s fought his way back into the City first team, and Mendy is likely to be Guardiola’s first-choice left back this season, especially considering he was the most expensive defender in the world at the time of signing.

9. İlkay Gündoğan, 27 – Manchester City

A top player for Borussia Dortmund, Gündoğan hasn’t quite found his best form at Man City, though he has been a regular for the newly champions, which is no mean feat considering the quality they can boast in midfield. Pep Guardiola has a lot of faith in this man, and Pep is rarely wrong, so expect to see better and better things from the German international as this season unfolds.

8. N’Golo Kanté, 27 – Chelsea

Player of the year the season before last, and one who helped Leicester to their incredible league title, Kanté is the epitome of the hard-working central midfielder. He seems to be able to be everywhere at once and his athleticism and inexhaustible energy were the driving force behind Chelsea’s championship-winning season of 2016/17. A drop in form last season, as unrest at Chelsea led to Conte’s eventual departure, sees Kanté in 8th place in our list but if anyone can force his way back to the top it’s this machine.

7. Mousa Dembélé, 31 – Tottenham

A bit of an unsung hero at Tottenham, Dembélé is one of those players who’s genius is often missed, but if you watch closely you see a player capable of taking complete control of a game. He has power, pace and technique but, above all, the intelligence to know when to drive forward (he’s one of the top dribblers in the league believe it or not) or when to slow things down. For Tottenham, he’s simply irreplaceable.

6. Xherdan Shaqiri, 26 – Liverpool

Having spent last season braving the proverbial cold, rainy nights as his Stoke City side were relegated; Shaqiri was the standout player in a struggling team. Now he’s at Liverpool, we might see this little dynamo show what he’s really made of. In the most potent attacking team in the league, Shaqiri could be in for an absolute blinder or a season warming the bench as his teammates bang them in, we’ll see.

5. Riyad Mahrez, 27 – Manchester City

Another player whose position in the list is influenced by his recent transfer is Riyad Mahrez. We’ve seen the best of him as, two years ago, he helped lowly Leicester to the most unexpected Premier League victory in history. Since then, however he’s not quite set the league on fire. Now he’s playing for the frankly exceptional Man City, we’re likely to see Mahrez back to his electrifying best.

4. Sadio Mané, 26 – Liverpool

When your team sells Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for £400 billion (that’s right, yeah?) you’d usually expect the goals to start drying up. Thanks to players like Sadio Mané (and someone else who may feature on this list) Liverpool didn’t have that problem last season. Mané’s pace and power have been instrumental in driving Liverpool forward and he chips in with his fair share of goals and assists. He’s a Champions League finalist now and he’s just getting better and better.

3. Mesut Özil, 29 – Arsenal

Time and again Arsenal’s main man, Mesut Özil is just sheer class. He may not come up with as many goals as some of the players on this list but he continually lays it on a plate for his teammates to either devour or make a meal of. When he left Real Madrid the Spanish club’s fans were furious at the decision to let him go, and they know a player when they see one. He’s been the subject of controversy, and a bit of a scapegoat for an underperforming German team this World Cup, but if his Arsenal colleagues improve at finishing then our bet is Özil will finish this season with more assists than anyone on this list…maybe.

2. Paul Pogba, 25 – Manchester United

It’s tricky to place a man who was bought for £89 million yet has been subject to so much criticism on a list like this, but Pogba’s problems this year haven’t been down to lack of talent. Whether it’s the man or the manager, the guy’s got a World Cup winner’s medal swinging round his neck and he was brilliant in that tournament. If he can reproduce his France form for Man Utd then the rest of the league better look out. If not then It may spell the end of Mourinho because Pogba is going nowhere (unless Barca buy him in the next couple of weeks…stupid transfer windows).

1. Mohamed Salah, 26 – Liverpool

Surprise, surprise, the man topping our list is the Egyptian King who makes the Kop sing. The Liverpool faithful’s now famous song declares ‘if he scores another few, then I’ll be Muslim too’ and, since he’s been continually banging them in, the Mosques near Anfield should expect an influx of new worshippers any day now. Last year’s top scorer looks set to have another blinder after recovering from the injury that made all the difference in the Champions League Final (article sponsored by Loris Karius).

That’s our rundown of the top ten Muslim EPL players and below we’ve put together our best Muslim XI. If you disagree then feel free to tweet your disapproval @muslimhandsuk, it’s ok we can still be friends.

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ShareThis Copy and PasteToggle navigation 0 News From your award winning charity 27 APRIL 2018 The Muslim Premier League Top 10 Our rundown of the best Muslim footballers in the country Last season a Muslim player won the EPL golden boot for the first time since Nicolas Anelka in the 2008/09 season. With Muslim players taking the League by storm, we’ve compiled the definitive list of the top ten Muslims plying their trade in England’s top tier in 2018/19. 10. Benjamin Mendy, 24 – Manchester City Might have been higher on the list if long-term injury hadn’t scuppered his strong start to last season. He’s fought his way back into the City first team, and Mendy is likely to be Guardiola’s first-choice left back this season, especially considering he was the most expensive defender in the world at the time of signing. 9. İlkay Gündoğan, 27 – Manchester City A top player for Borussia Dortmund, Gündoğan hasn’t quite found his best form at Man City, though he has been a regular for the newly champions, which is no mean feat considering the quality they can boast in midfield. Pep Guardiola has a lot of faith in this man, and Pep is rarely wrong, so expect to see better and better things from the German international as this season unfolds. 8. N’Golo Kanté, 27 – Chelsea Player of the year the season before last, and one who helped Leicester to their incredible league title, Kanté is the epitome of the hard-working central midfielder. He seems to be able to be everywhere at once and his athleticism and inexhaustible energy were the driving force behind Chelsea’s championship-winning season of 2016/17. A drop in form last season, as unrest at Chelsea led to Conte’s eventual departure, sees Kanté in 8th place in our list but if anyone can force his way back to the top it’s this machine. 7. Mousa Dembélé, 31 – Tottenham A bit of an unsung hero at Tottenham, Dembélé is one of those players who’s genius is often missed, but if you watch closely you see a player capable of taking complete control of a game. He has power, pace and technique but, above all, the intelligence to know when to drive forward (he’s one of the top dribblers in the league believe it or not) or when to slow things down. For Tottenham, he’s simply irreplaceable. 6. Xherdan Shaqiri, 26 – Liverpool Having spent last season braving the proverbial cold, rainy nights as his Stoke City side were relegated; Shaqiri was the standout player in a struggling team. Now he’s at Liverpool, we might see this little dynamo show what he’s really made of. In the most potent attacking team in the league, Shaqiri could be in for an absolute blinder or a season warming the bench as his teammates bang them in, we’ll see. 5. Riyad Mahrez, 27 – Manchester City Another player whose position in the list is influenced by his recent transfer is Riyad Mahrez. We’ve seen the best of him as, two years ago, he helped lowly Leicester to the most unexpected Premier League victory in history. Since then, however he’s not quite set the league on fire. Now he’s playing for the frankly exceptional Man City, we’re likely to see Mahrez back to his electrifying best. 4. Sadio Mané, 26 – Liverpool When your team sells Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for £400 billion (that’s right, yeah?) you’d usually expect the goals to start drying up. Thanks to players like Sadio Mané (and someone else who may feature on this list) Liverpool didn’t have that problem last season. Mané’s pace and power have been instrumental in driving Liverpool forward and he chips in with his fair share of goals and assists. He’s a Champions League finalist now and he’s just getting better and better. 3. Mesut Özil, 29 – Arsenal Time and again Arsenal’s main man, Mesut Özil is just sheer class. He may not come up with as many goals as some of the players on this list but he continually lays it on a plate for his teammates to either devour or make a meal of. When he left Real Madrid the Spanish club’s fans were furious at the decision to let him go, and they know a player when they see one. He’s been the subject of controversy, and a bit of a scapegoat for an underperforming German team this World Cup, but if his Arsenal colleagues improve at finishing then our bet is Özil will finish this season with more assists than anyone on this list…maybe. 2. Paul Pogba, 25 – Manchester United It’s tricky to place a man who was bought for £89 million yet has been subject to so much criticism on a list like this, but Pogba’s problems this year haven’t been down to lack of talent. Whether it’s the man or the manager, the guy’s got a World Cup winner’s medal swinging round his neck and he was brilliant in that tournament. If he can reproduce his France form for Man Utd then the rest of the league better look out. If not then It may spell the end of Mourinho because Pogba is going nowhere (unless Barca buy him in the next couple of weeks…stupid transfer windows). 1. Mohamed Salah, 26 – Liverpool Surprise, surprise, the man topping our list is the Egyptian King who makes the Kop sing. The Liverpool faithful’s now famous song declares ‘if he scores another few, then I’ll be Muslim too’ and, since he’s been continually banging them in, the Mosques near Anfield should expect an influx of new worshippers any day now. Last year’s top scorer looks set to have another blinder after recovering from the injury that made all the difference in the Champions League Final (article sponsored by Loris Karius). That’s our rundown of the top ten Muslim EPL players and below we’ve put together our best Muslim XI. If you disagree then feel free to tweet your disapproval @muslimhandsuk, it’s ok we can still be friends. PREVIOUS ARTICLE 8 Facts We Didn’t Know About Masjid Al-Aqsa NEXT ARTICLE Give More, Gain More this Ramadan Follow Muslim Hands SUBSCRIBE Get the latest Muslim Hands news delivered to your inbox ARCHIVE 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 January February March April May June July August September October November December 2017 2016 2015 CATEGORIES CORONAVIRUS EDUCATION EMERGENCIES ENVIRONMENT GET INVOLVED HAJJ HEALTH HUNGER ISLAM LIVELIHOODS MAJOR GIVING MOTHERKIND NEWS ORPHANS PODCAST QURBANI RAMADAN STREET CHILD UK PROJECTS WATER WINTER APPEAL Latest News and Updates 01 NOVEMBER 2023 Press Release: Muslim Hands Appeals to Supporters to Give Generously as Intensifying Conflict Threatens Humanitarian Catastrophe in Gaza 23 OCTOBER 2023 Black History Month: Celebrating the Prophet’s (saw) Second Mother – Umm Ayman 13 OCTOBER 2023 Press Release: Afghanistan Hit by Deadly Earthquake Killing and Displacing Thousands 25 SEPTEMBER 2023 Combating Food Insecurity: Muslim Hands’ Tandoor Bakery 12 SEPTEMBER 2023 Press Release: ‘Little Boy Clutched Mothers’ Hand as She Perished Under the Rubble’ Moroccan Aid Worker Provides Emergency Aid to Victims Impacted by the Devastating Earthquake 07 SEPTEMBER 2023 What is Sadaqah Jariyah? 05 SEPTEMBER 2023 Survivors of the Türkiye and Syria earthquake: Where are they now? 30 AUGUST 2023 Your Guide to Wearing the Ihram for Hajj and ’Umrah 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 MORE UPDATES Established in 1993, Muslim Hands is an aid agency and NGO helping those affected by poverty, conflict and natural disaster in over 20 countries worldwide. LATEST NEWS DONATE NOW Copyright © 2023 Muslim Hands. All rights reserved. 148 Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham, NG7 5JE. Registered Charity No. 1105056 / Registered Company No. 05080486 in England. Privacy and Security Terms and Conditions Update Cookie Preferences Toggle navigation 0 News From your award winning charity 27 APRIL 2018 The Muslim Premier League Top 10 Our rundown of the best Muslim footballers in the country Last season a Muslim player won the EPL golden boot for the first time since Nicolas Anelka in the 2008/09 season. With Muslim players taking the League by storm, we’ve compiled the definitive list of the top ten Muslims plying their trade in England’s top tier in 2018/19. 10. Benjamin Mendy, 24 – Manchester City Might have been higher on the list if long-term injury hadn’t scuppered his strong start to last season. He’s fought his way back into the City first team, and Mendy is likely to be Guardiola’s first-choice left back this season, especially considering he was the most expensive defender in the world at the time of signing. 9. İlkay Gündoğan, 27 – Manchester City A top player for Borussia Dortmund, Gündoğan hasn’t quite found his best form at Man City, though he has been a regular for the newly champions, which is no mean feat considering the quality they can boast in midfield. Pep Guardiola has a lot of faith in this man, and Pep is rarely wrong, so expect to see better and better things from the German international as this season unfolds. 8. N’Golo Kanté, 27 – Chelsea Player of the year the season before last, and one who helped Leicester to their incredible league title, Kanté is the epitome of the hard-working central midfielder. He seems to be able to be everywhere at once and his athleticism and inexhaustible energy were the driving force behind Chelsea’s championship-winning season of 2016/17. A drop in form last season, as unrest at Chelsea led to Conte’s eventual departure, sees Kanté in 8th place in our list but if anyone can force his way back to the top it’s this machine. 7. Mousa Dembélé, 31 – Tottenham A bit of an unsung hero at Tottenham, Dembélé is one of those players who’s genius is often missed, but if you watch closely you see a player capable of taking complete control of a game. He has power, pace and technique but, above all, the intelligence to know when to drive forward (he’s one of the top dribblers in the league believe it or not) or when to slow things down. For Tottenham, he’s simply irreplaceable. 6. Xherdan Shaqiri, 26 – Liverpool Having spent last season braving the proverbial cold, rainy nights as his Stoke City side were relegated; Shaqiri was the standout player in a struggling team. Now he’s at Liverpool, we might see this little dynamo show what he’s really made of. In the most potent attacking team in the league, Shaqiri could be in for an absolute blinder or a season warming the bench as his teammates bang them in, we’ll see. 5. Riyad Mahrez, 27 – Manchester City Another player whose position in the list is influenced by his recent transfer is Riyad Mahrez. We’ve seen the best of him as, two years ago, he helped lowly Leicester to the most unexpected Premier League victory in history. Since then, however he’s not quite set the league on fire. Now he’s playing for the frankly exceptional Man City, we’re likely to see Mahrez back to his electrifying best. 4. Sadio Mané, 26 – Liverpool When your team sells Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for £400 billion (that’s right, yeah?) you’d usually expect the goals to start drying up. Thanks to players like Sadio Mané (and someone else who may feature on this list) Liverpool didn’t have that problem last season. Mané’s pace and power have been instrumental in driving Liverpool forward and he chips in with his fair share of goals and assists. He’s a Champions League finalist now and he’s just getting better and better. 3. Mesut Özil, 29 – Arsenal Time and again Arsenal’s main man, Mesut Özil is just sheer class. He may not come up with as many goals as some of the players on this list but he continually lays it on a plate for his teammates to either devour or make a meal of. When he left Real Madrid the Spanish club’s fans were furious at the decision to let him go, and they know a player when they see one. He’s been the subject of controversy, and a bit of a scapegoat for an underperforming German team this World Cup, but if his Arsenal colleagues improve at finishing then our bet is Özil will finish this season with more assists than anyone on this list…maybe. 2. Paul Pogba, 25 – Manchester United It’s tricky to place a man who was bought for £89 million yet has been subject to so much criticism on a list like this, but Pogba’s problems this year haven’t been down to lack of talent. Whether it’s the man or the manager, the guy’s got a World Cup winner’s medal swinging round his neck and he was brilliant in that tournament. If he can reproduce his France form for Man Utd then the rest of the league better look out. If not then It may spell the end of Mourinho because Pogba is going nowhere (unless Barca buy him in the next couple of weeks…stupid transfer windows). 1. Mohamed Salah, 26 – Liverpool Surprise, surprise, the man topping our list is the Egyptian King who makes the Kop sing. The Liverpool faithful’s now famous song declares ‘if he scores another few, then I’ll be Muslim too’ and, since he’s been continually banging them in, the Mosques near Anfield should expect an influx of new worshippers any day now. Last year’s top scorer looks set to have another blinder after recovering from the injury that made all the difference in the Champions League Final (article sponsored by Loris Karius). That’s our rundown of the top ten Muslim EPL players and below we’ve put together our best Muslim XI. If you disagree then feel free to tweet your disapproval @muslimhandsuk, it’s ok we can still be friends. PREVIOUS ARTICLE 8 Facts We Didn’t Know About Masjid Al-Aqsa NEXT ARTICLE Give More, Gain More this Ramadan Follow Muslim Hands SUBSCRIBE Get the latest Muslim Hands news delivered to your inbox ARCHIVE 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 January February March April May June July August September October November December 2017 2016 2015 CATEGORIES CORONAVIRUS EDUCATION EMERGENCIES ENVIRONMENT GET INVOLVED HAJJ HEALTH HUNGER ISLAM LIVELIHOODS MAJOR GIVING MOTHERKIND NEWS ORPHANS PODCAST QURBANI RAMADAN STREET CHILD UK PROJECTS WATER WINTER APPEAL Latest News and Updates 01 NOVEMBER 2023 Press Release: Muslim Hands Appeals to Supporters to Give Generously as Intensifying Conflict Threatens Humanitarian Catastrophe in Gaza 23 OCTOBER 2023 Black History Month: Celebrating the Prophet’s (saw) Second Mother – Umm Ayman 13 OCTOBER 2023 Press Release: Afghanistan Hit by Deadly Earthquake Killing and Displacing Thousands 25 SEPTEMBER 2023 Combating Food Insecurity: Muslim Hands’ Tandoor Bakery 12 SEPTEMBER 2023 Press Release: ‘Little Boy Clutched Mothers’ Hand as She Perished Under the Rubble’ Moroccan Aid Worker Provides Emergency Aid to Victims Impacted by the Devastating Earthquake 07 SEPTEMBER 2023 What is Sadaqah Jariyah? 05 SEPTEMBER 2023 Survivors of the Türkiye and Syria earthquake: Where are they now? 30 AUGUST 2023 Your Guide to Wearing the Ihram for Hajj and ’Umrah 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 MORE UPDATES Established in 1993, Muslim Hands is an aid agency and NGO helping those affected by poverty, conflict and natural disaster in over 20 countries worldwide. LATEST NEWS DONATE NOW Copyright © 2023 Muslim Hands. All rights reserved. 148 Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham, NG7 5JE. Registered Charity No. 1105056 / Registered Company No. 05080486 in England. Privacy and Security Terms and Conditions Update Cookie Preferences ShareThis Copy and Paste

Why Catholics make great managers

It’s back. The new Premier League season starts on August 13, just as fans finally stop shaking their heads in disbelief at the events of last season. Will the old order now reassert itself? Or has Leicester City’s staggering success somehow cracked it open?

We shall see. But here’s a different kind of prediction. The manager who wins the title is going to be a Catholic, and probably a devout one.

Who says so? The form book. The Premier League winners over the past three seasons have all been coached by staunch Catholics: Claudio Ranieri at Leicester, José Mourinho at Chelsea and Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City.

Indeed, if you count Roberto Mancini’s success with Manchester City in 2012, it’s four out of the last five. Mancini was an altar boy in his childhood home of Ancona and is a regular Mass-goer.

Taking the decade so far, and so including Chelsea’s victory under Carlo Ancelotti in 2010, then only Sir Alex Ferguson (now retired) bucks the trend. Ancelotti is the son of a farm labourer from northern Italy. He has told journalists about how much the faith handed on by his parents formed him, that he has a devotion to Padre Pio and that he prays every day (though not about football: “I think God has better things to do”).

And what if we throw in Arsène Wenger? Here is another former altar boy who, when growing up in the Alsace region of France, needed to ask permission of his priest to excuse him from evening Vespers in order to play football. “I am forever grateful for the values my religion has given me,” he has said.

Add Wenger’s multiple successes to Mourinho’s pre-2010 triumphs, and then the rulership of Catholics over the Premier League era is more or less complete – with the towering exception, once again, of Sir Alex and Kenny Dalglish (who though he played for Celtic is not a Catholic).

But back to Leicester and Ranieri in particular. This is a man who up until last season might have merited a short footnote in the history of English football. Now he is the kindly hero of the one chapter people will never tire of reading.

Earlier this year Ranieri told the Telegraph that he goes to church as often as he can and prays every night. He visits the tomb of St Rita, the patron saint of impossible causes, in Umbria. His family matters enormously to him: famously, on the day Chelsea played Tottenham in the match that would wrap up the title for Leicester, he flew back to Rome to have lunch with his mother. Ranieri also often speaks of his players with what sounds like paternal care.

José Mourinho is a different kind of character: edgier, more enigmatic, more intense. His relations with Wenger (and with Pep Guardiola, of whom more later) are frosty to say the least. But he has always been very open and direct about his faith.

He once told the BBC: “I pray a lot. I am Catholic, I believe in God. I try to be a good man so He can have a bit of time to give me a hand when I need it.” And to the Telegraph: “I believe totally, clearly.”

Mourinho has been a World Food Programme ambassador and, with his wife, Tami, a supporter of a Catholic food programme back home in Portugal. “We want our son and daughter to understand how privileged we are, and to understand that other people need support,” he has explained.

What then of Manuel Pellegrini, who holds a degree in civil engineering from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile? A Spanish journalist speaking to CNN had this to say about Pellegrini and his assistant, Rubén Cousillas: “Cousillas is always praying on the sidelines. They have many pictures of the Virgin Mary and of different saints. Both men are very religious.”

So what might be going on here? Is there some kind of Catholic way to Premier League success? As the case of Ranieri suggests, perhaps Catholicism lends itself to a certain form of paternalism – a subtle mix of firm authority with indulgent care –which is well suited to the management of English football teams. Or might it be too fanciful to suggest that the experience of being part of a universal, ecumenically minded Church makes it easier for these men to nurture a sense of togetherness among the multi-ethnic squads of the modern era?

Or perhaps there is even something in the Catholic sensibility that allows them to fuse the pursuit of joy with the single-minded pursuit of excellence. All of these coaches display a fierce work ethic that would have had Max Weber scratching his head. It is as if Genesis, with its “You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow”, is forever ringing in their ears.

As he so often does, maybe Chesterton holds the key: “The true object of all human life is play,” he wrote. “Earth is a task garden; heaven is a playground.”

On the other hand, perhaps, this is all just a trick of the eye and the truth is that these managers are simply rolling off a production line from what are, after all, some of the great soccer nations.

Maybe. But setting aside its significance, what are chances of the Catholic hegemony continuing? Well, Ranieri is still in place at Leicester. Wenger’s reign at Arsenal, last season’s runners-up, is stretching into its 21st season. Third-placed Spurs remain under the leadership of the Argentinian, Mauricio Pochettino, also reportedly a man of faith, though not practising.

Mourinho, sacked by Chelsea last season in the middle of a disastrous title defence, will be back with a bang at Manchester United. Meanwhile, Pellegrini has been replaced at Manchester City by Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola’s background is Catholic, though he is not now religious. He was born in Sanpedor, 70 miles from Barcelona, where he went to the local Catholic school and played the role of an angel in village Nativity plays. He learnt his first words of English, a language we will get used to hearing him use with ease during press conferences, from a Brother Virgilio at his next school, La Salle de Manresa.

Guardiola is another workaholic with a strong attachment to family life and a social conscience: in his first season managing Barcelona, he decided that money collected from players’ fines should go to a charitable organisation (instead of going to team meals as was the custom). The funds were donated to the Sant Joan de Déu Foundation, which investigates Rett Syndrome.

Elsewhere among the favourites, Chelsea are now managed by Antonio Conte, another Italian with a no less fierce belief in team spirit and hard work. And Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool, though not Catholic, is also a sincere Christian.

In the end, it is all probably just an eye-catching coincidence. Premier League chairmen on the hunt for success will not be asking candidates to recite the Angelus during job interviews any time soon. Nevertheless, come next May, look out for a Catholic manager yet again taking a bow as the champion of England.

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Abomination: Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola convert to Muslims and reveal his new name

Abomination: Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola convert to Muslims and reveal his new name

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