Barcelona boss Luis Enrique's 12 commandements

The other Luis Enrique

Away from his image as a manager, which is often distant, cold and uncomfortable, Luis Enrique is passionate about sport. He is the owner of several records from his childhood and loves all different sports -- he is a keen runner -- and may one day like to manage in England (if his wife gives into the climate). Here he reveals a lot of personal information from his last interview before taking charge at Barça, with FourFourTwo's Andy Mitten. 

Van Gaal, his reference

Luis Enrique points to Louis van Gaal as the manager he remembers most fondly. "I learned most from Van Gaal," he admitted. "Even though it was with him I had the most clashes with! He has an obesession with working and planning -- I prefer to be more flexible -- but in general I learned from everyone: Benhakker, Serra Ferrer, Camacho, Clemente, etc.” 

The 'Figo case'

Lucho experienced Luis Figo's move to Real Madrid in first person. In fact, he was the first Barcelona player that new Figo was going to sign for the eternal rival. They were friends and the Portuguese player told Luis Enrique in the summer of 2000. "We went to Cerdeña with out families and he said to me [about moving to Madrid]. He had the right to leave, even though it's true Barça were robbed of the best player of the moment. It was tough for him though, you could see it in his face. He suffered. Sometimes people think football players are martians, but we have problems like everyone else." 

Learning

The day that Messi debuted in the first team, Luis Enrique wore the captain's armband. A hierarchical chasm separated them then, in November 2003, but Lucho soon realised Messi was going to be a special player. "He moved quickly through the categories, he was unique," Enrique said. Although Lucho added that Messi was an exception to the rule that young players have to learn gradually. "They have to understand, adapt and learn. They have to go slowly and take on too much pressure."

In love with the Premier League

After retiring as a player, Luis Enrique enjoyed football as a fan. He visited Anfield and Celtic Park, wearing Liverpool and Celtic scarves, to watch games with his friends. "We sung 'You'll never walk alone", Luis Garcia (ex-Barça and Liverpool) got us tickets and hardly anyone recognised me in the stands. I loved the atmosphere at these grounds."  

Future in England?

Reading were linked with Luis Enrique before he took the job at Barça B. "But they were just rumours," he's since revealed. However, the Asturian would one day like to manage in the English leagues. "But my wife doesn't like the climate, she is from Barcelona and prefers the sun. It would depend on the type of team and what sort of football they play." 

Robson did not recognise him

After signing for Barcelona in 1996, alongwith the Argentine Pizzi, Luis Enrique wasn't recognised by the club's new manager, Bobby Robson. The English coach walked into the dressing room and asked Jose Mourinho "Who are those?" in reference to Luis Enrique and Pizzi. 

His most memorable goal

Luis Enrique celebrating in a Barça shirt at the Bernabeu is in the memory of many Cules. It is also in Lucho's. It was his most pleasurable goal. "Without doubt," he confessed. "It was the second for Barça in a 2-3 win in 1997-98, it led to a passionate celebration. In that era Barça weren't great at the Bernabeu, so it was a very special moment." 

Why Lucho?

When Luis Enrique was 14, Sporting signed a Mexican midfielder called Luis Flores, nicknamed 'Lucho' Flores. Lucho Flores had a brilliant season with the Asturian side (scored 12 times) and a friend gave Luis Enrique the same nickname. "It didn't bother me, he was a good player," the Barça boss has said. 

Tassotti's apology

He was elbowed by Mauro Tassotti at the World Cup in 1994, but Luis Enrique doesn't holf a grudge -- even though the incident did break his nose. "I will shake Tassotti's hand," he said when he was in charge of Roma. "It's a shame 17 years have passed as this means we are 17 years older. I have no problems with Tassotti. What happens on the pitch stays there. I know Tassotti regretted what he did. We have to move on."

Football in Gijon

Luis Enrique's father didn't like football. Maybe he didn't have enough time for it (he worked a lot). Therefore, he didn't give Lucho his love for the game. That game in 1983 when a 13-year-old Luis Enrique watched Spain beate Malta 12-1, even though he'd already been a regular at El Molinon. "My first memory is queueing to watch Sporting-Cadiz when I was 10," he's said before. "It was with my brother (Felipe, 11 years older and a local police man in Gijon), we got their an hour and a half before the game." 

Rivaldo

Despite being very serious in his role as a manager, Luis Enqrique admits he likes to see players enjoying themselves in the dressing room. "I like that football's like that," he's explained. "Football is a party, not a prison." Although he points out some people prefer silence: "Ronaldo and Ronaldinho loved [to have fun], but there are others who prefer to be quiet. Rivaldo, for example, was the only Brazilian who didn't like music. But he was still a great player." 

Cider or beer?

They usual drink in Asturias is usually a very strong cider. "It is something social, you can share it, but you have to be careful because if you have too much there will be problems," Luis Enrique has previously advised. The Barça boss prefers a cider to beer, though.