Pep Munoz: Coaching Grimaldo at Barcelona & working with super pro Fellaini

Pep Munoz is a coach who likes a challenge and is never afraid to take a job in a country many coaches would not even consider. His career so far has taken him from Barcelona's academy to China and Cambodia where he is currently manager of Preach Khan Reach Svay Rieng Football Club.

Despite not being the easiest team name to pronounce, Munoz has made life there look easy this season. After 28 games in the Cambodian Premier League, Svay Rieng have won 23 games, drawn two and lost twice and are already the league champions.

In the earlier days of Munoz's coaching career, he had the opportunity to coach Barcelona's youth team at the famous 'La Masia'. During that period, he coached players who now play in the top divisions of Europe – quite the experience. And in China he coached the likes of Marouane Fellaini and Graziano Pelle at a time the Chinese Super League was on the rise. All in all, it is a career worth talking about and that is exactly what Munoz did when he sat down with TribalFootball recently for a wide-ranging interview.

What would you say was the best experience of your career and the most difficult one?

"Well, it's difficult to choose one. I have perfect memories from my years in FC Barcelona, especially when we won the first edition of the UEFA Youth League in 2014. I would also add the season with Shandong Luneng (2019) coaching great players like Fellaini, Graziano Pelle, and Chinese top players. Players that I also coached in the Chinese National Team. [I had] good memories from those days. Especially in games against Japan or Saudi Arabia.

"On difficult moments, I would say the relegation from second division with Barcelona B and the cup final we lost with Shandong Luneng against Shanghai Shenghua in 2019.