Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has spoken out emotionally about the ongoing war in Gaza, saying the conflict causes him deep pain.
Guardiola, 54, shared his thoughts while receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester on Monday. During his speech, he described the suffering in Gaza as heartbreaking.
“It’s so painful what we see in Gaza. It hurts my whole body,” Guardiola said in a speech that has since gone viral on social media.
The Spanish coach stressed that his message wasn’t political but based on basic human values.
“It’s not about ideology. It’s not about who is right or wrong. It’s about love for life and caring for one another,” he said.
The war began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,219 people, mostly civilians. Since then, Israel has launched a military campaign in Gaza. According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 54,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed. The United Nations says the death toll is credible.
Guardiola said the images of injured and killed children in Gaza remind him of his own kids — Maria, Marius, and Valentina.
“When I see children in Gaza suffering, I think of my own kids. It’s terrifying,” he said. “We might think it’s not our problem, but one day it could be our children.”
Guardiola is known for speaking out on social issues. In the past, he supported Catalonia’s independence movement in Spain.
The University of Manchester honoured him for his success as City manager — winning six Premier League titles — and his charity work through the Guardiola Sala Foundation, which supports disadvantaged people.
Other football figures have also spoken on the Gaza crisis. In October 2023, Liverpool star Mohamed Salah urged world leaders to stop the violence. German club Mainz later sacked Dutch winger Anwar El Ghazi over controversial posts about the war.
Guardiola’s heartfelt speech adds to growing voices in the football world calling for compassion and peace.
