News
Latest > How Rory met Pep
Jul 5th, 2017
How Rory met Pep
And did Rory's father influence him to come to Man City?
Words: GolfPunk
Rory McIlroy has revealed how his Manchester City supporting father might just have helped bring Pep Guardiola to the club.
Rory McIlroy has become friends with Pep, even though he is himself a Manchester United fan, and says that his father Gerry met the Manchester City manager back in 2012.
At the time Guardiola was taking a break from football, after leaving Barcelona. He met the McIlroy’s at Medinah during the Ryder Cup.
“My relationship with Pep started at The Ryder Cup in 2012,” said McIlroy. “He was there. That was sort of his sabbatical year from management.
“He loves his golf. He went to the Masters that year, went to the Ryder Cup. Struck up a bit of a relationship.
“Actually Pep and my dad, basically, walked all three days together and my dad is a huge City fan.
“At that time he was asking 'Pep, when are you going to come manage City?', and obviously he got his wish four years later, I guess. That's how it started.”
McIlroy was paired with Pep at the Irish Open Pro–Am yesterday and attended a charity event for his foundation in Belfast on Tuesday night, where the pair were interviewed by actor James Nesbitt.
Despite his friendship with Guardiola, Manchester Utd fan McIlroy said he will not be changing allegiances.
“No, definitely not. My dad is a City fan. That’s as far as it will go in our house.”
Related:
Rory bans himself from social media
