Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola delivered an emotional and deeply personal address on Monday as he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester, speaking of his fear and heartbreak over the ongoing war in Gaza.
In a powerful speech at the university’s Whitworth Hall, Guardiola, 54, said he was “so scared” and “hurt” by the suffering of innocent people, particularly children, amid the continued Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
The conflict began after the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led cross-border attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and saw more than 250 others taken hostage. In response, Israel launched a campaign in Gaza which, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, has since resulted in over 54,000 deaths.
Guardiola, known for his political openness, said:
“It’s so painful what we see in Gaza. It hurts my whole body. It’s not about ideology. It’s about the love of life, about caring for your neighbour.”
Fighting back emotion, he added:
“Maybe we see four-year-old children dying in hospitals that no longer function, and we think it’s not our business. But be careful. The next children could be ours. When I see the kids in Gaza every morning, I see Maria, Marius and Valentina—my own children. I’m so scared.”
The City manager’s speech quickly went viral, widely shared across social media for its raw emotional depth and universal appeal to empathy. He implored the audience not to become numb to suffering simply because it feels distant.
His address was not limited to the Israel-Gaza war. Guardiola also expressed his concern about conflicts in Sudan and Ukraine, urging a collective moral awakening.
To underscore his point, Guardiola told a fable:
“A forest is on fire. All the animals are terrified. A small bird flies to the sea, carries drops of water in its beak, and drops them on the fire. A snake laughs, saying it’s pointless. The bird replies, ‘I know I can’t put it out, but I’m doing my part.’”
Guardiola concluded with a call to action:
“In a world that says we are too small to matter, that story reminds me it’s not about scale. It’s about choosing to care, to show up, to refuse silence.”
The honorary degree celebrates Guardiola’s success with Manchester City—winning 18 trophies in nine years—as well as the humanitarian work of his Guardiola Sala Foundation, which supports disadvantaged communities.
Guardiola has a history of activism. In 2018, he was fined £20,000 by the Football Association for wearing a yellow ribbon in support of Catalan political prisoners. A year earlier, he joined large pro-independence protests in Barcelona.
His latest comments place him among a handful of high-profile figures in football to speak out on the Gaza conflict. Liverpool star Mohamed Salah called for world leaders to act back in October 2023, while Dutch winger Anwar El Ghazi lost his contract at Mainz for a perceived pro-Palestine post, later donating €500,000 to aid children in Gaza.
The Football Association, meanwhile, faced criticism last year for not illuminating Wembley Stadium’s arch during England’s friendly against Australia—a perceived silence on the issue.
Guardiola’s words come at a time when many in sport are navigating the intersection of politics, morality, and responsibility. His appeal for empathy, courage, and small acts of humanity is a reminder that football’s biggest names can still be powerful voices for global justice.
