Bayern Munich manager Guardiola, named FIFA World Coach of the Year in January 2012, has gone on to become one of the most admired coaches in the world after an equally successful playing career, most of which was spent with FC Barcelona, including during the 1991-1992 season when the team won La Liga and the European Cup.

As well as playing 47 times for the Spanish national football squad, he managed Barcelona for four years - leading them to two UEFA Champions League, Copa del Rey and FIFA Club World Cup wins, as well as three La Liga crowns, before taking over at Bayern Munich at the start of the 2013-2014 season.

Laureus World Sports Academy member and Bayern Munich honorary President Franz Beckenbauer said Guardiola "fits in perfectly with the Laureus Family".

Pep Guardiola was named FIFA World Coach of the Year in January 2012
©Bongarts/Getty Images


"His record at Barcelona was remarkable," he added.

"Some of the greatest players in the world were in his team and he blended them into a magical team.

"To win so much in such a short time, and with so little experience, is a record that will be hard to beat.

"At Bayern Munich we now hope that he can have similar success as our manager."

Estiarte, meanwhile, is a six-time Olympian - including when he won gold and silver at the Atlanta 1996 and Barcelona 1992 Games respectively - and has played for the Spanish water polo team 578 times.

He was also a member of the Spanish team that won the World Championship at Perth in 1998.

Estiarte and Guardiola, who have already worked together at both Barcelona and Bayern Munich, will now support the work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which was established to tackle social issues through a global programme of sports related community development initiatives.

Manel Estiarte is currently personal assistant to Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich ©Bongarts/Getty Images


Laureus World Sports Academy chairman Edwin Moses, himself a double Olympic 400 metres hurdles champion, welcomed them to the organisation.

"It is an extraordinary honour to welcome two such giants of sport to Laureus," he said.

"Pep is one of the most celebrated young coaches in any sport today and Manel is quite simply one of the great Olympians.

"We are honoured that they are joining the Laureus family and want to support us in our work of helping young people around the world."

President of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation in Spain and former Barcelona vice-president Gabriel Masfurroll, who introduced Laureus to Guardiola, added: "I have known both Pep and Manel for many years and for me their personal and sporting values, as well as their leadership and their desire to improve, are admirable.

"We are proud to have these two great sportsmen joining the Laureus Family and helping us with our efforts to work with young people around the world through sport."

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