Pep Guardiola’s decision to step down as Barcelona head coach is perhaps one of the saddest moments for football lovers in Europe and around the world. Under the mercurial 41-year-old, Barca scooped almost every trophy on the table and put together football which at times was from another planet altogether.

Yet the manner of his departure bore an uncanny resemblance to events in the North-West of England almost four decades previously.

Guardiola made for the exit saying he was worn out and in need of a break, he is in good company because Bill Shankly said that when he suddenly retired at the very top when Liverpool manager in 1974.

That was a surprise move and one Shankly regretted for the rest of his days, leaving the club he adored. One hopes ‘Pep’ doesn’t emulate the late, great ‘Shanks’ again.

Title, trophies and tributes

Shankly’s success is well documented and even he would have applauded the gluttonous way Barca have devoured trophies since Guardiola took charge in 2008. Since taking over from Frank Rijkaard, Guardiola has led Barca to three La Liga titles, two Champions Leagues, three Spanish Super cups, one Copa del Rey, two World Club Cups and two UEFA Super Cups.

Chelsea tackle Barcelona in the Champions League knowing they face a world-class football team and an out of this world striker in Lionel Messi. The little Argentine maestro will be at the head of football’s very own classical orchestra again and Roberto Di Matteo will be the latest manager to devise a plan to blunt Messi and his mates. But in another record breaking year for Messi and for Barcelona, can anyone make Messi miserable? And why is he still not regarded as the very best of his generation?

When the great Pele takes to Twitter to say that, while an outstanding talent, Messi is not as good as the Brazilian Neymar, you know there will be debate. Not from Messi himself though, partly because he is the most humble footballer you will ever see but mostly because he does his talking on the pitch.

Making a Mess-i of the records

This year has seen Leo Messi take a host of record books and rip them to shreds, most goals in a La Liga season, most goals in a season and of course he is now the club’s greatest ever goal-scorer. Oh and while we are on he scored five in a single Champions League game and has put together so many hat-tricks this season that defences almost expect to be three goals down now.

Not knowing who your country's manager will be in an upcoming major European tournament is a typically English situation to be in - one of absolute absurdity. When the Football Association came to an agreement to let Fabio Capello leave his contract some seven months early, they threw England's plans for Poland and Ukraine into disarray at a surprisingly early stage. Usually it's after the first group game that things fall apart for the Three Lions.

Nevertheless, with a friendly against Holland coming up on February 29th, a game that coincides with the release of yet another new England shirt, whoever is the next man to step into the hot seat(assuming the media haven't already handed Harry Redknapp the job by the time you read this) has a fantastic opportunity to look towards the future, and mould a national team that has an actual chance of winning a trophy.

John Terry is no longer captain, and there are some making the case that he should no longer be a part of the squad altogether. Ditto the case with Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard - members of Capello's lions who were more 'golden shower' at times than golden generation. If the FA see sense and appoint an ambitious, young European manager who isn't Stuart Pearce, then the squad for Euro 2012 should have a much younger, more exciting feel.

The likes of Danny Welbeck, Jack Wilshere and Kyle Walker are already starting to make their presence known in the senior England set-up, but what if Soccer Portal got out its' crystal ball to peer further into the future? Here are some names, that you may or may not have heard of, that could be starring in Russia in 2018...

Suarez proved to the footballing world that this is a man who possesses little intelligence outside the minutes of play, but most importantly, a complete disregard for his club and his manager. He hung Kenny Dalglish and Liverpool Football Club out to dry.

Suarez clearly feels victimised by the ban. Speculating the reasons why he refused to shake hands is difficult. Evra has been the victim of racial abuse yet he was dignified enough to hold out his hand and make amends with the person who aggrieved him. But it is certain Suarez wanted to make a point. He wanted to make a stand against the person who he feels wrongly accused him of indecency, who betrayed him by disobeying the footballing code.

Making amends

Kenny Dalglish, in a published statement on Wednesday evening, said that the club were looking to draw a line under the saga, and that Suarez would accept Evra's hand before the game. This suggests that Suarez was informed of his duty and agreed with his manager that the best course of action would be to shake hands and get on with the proceedings.

European football. For club sides from Spain and England to Liechtenstein and Andorra, there is no greater reward for domestic success than to compete against the very best that UEFA has to offer on a grand stage.

The opportunity to create a legacy for yourself and your side is unmatched, from the old Inter-City Fairs Cup, to the European Cup, the Intertoto Cup(yes, honestly), the Champions League and most recently, the Europa League.

Who will ever forget the Lisbon Lions of Celtic? Nottingham Forest's incredible ascent to glory in the mid-80's? Manchester United's last gasp heroics against Bayern Munich in 1999? Liverpool's comeback of all comebacks against AC Milan?

All of these moments and many, many more will always be fondly recollected by fans of a plethora of clubs throughout Europe. But more recently, the reputation of one competition in particular has come into question, namely, the aforementioned Europa League. Is glory in the format formerly known as the UEFA Cup really all it's cracked up to be? Or is this one continental brass ring that isn't worth grabbing?

Baby brother

There's always been a certain stigma attached to the Europa League, something it doesn't seem to be able to shake, and that's the fact that the competition is basically the 'baby brother' of the more glamorous Champions League. Sky Sports roll out their best line-up of pundits for their coverage - Channel 5 will give you Stan Collymore.

The recent events surrounding the death of Gary Speed were tragic, it is not for us to surmise what happened in his life to bring it to such an untimely and unfortunate end, but the whole affair is sad for football fans everywhere.  Many tributes were paid at the time, phrases such as, ‘model professional’, ‘consummate professional’, and from Sir Alex Ferguson, ‘true and honest professional’.  There is a constant theme, in the eyes of all who knew, played and worked with him, Speed was someone to be held in the highest esteem.

‘Model professionals’, how many of today’s players are worthy of that description?  These types of men are stand out players, those who inspire team-mates and give younger members of the squad something to aspire to.  They are the ones who provide a ‘role model’ to thousands of youngsters around the world so there is a lot of responsibility placed on sometimes young shoulders.  Onerous as it may be, it is a critical part of being a professional footballer, the world is a small place with global communication, people watch your every move including your off field activities.

As well as the stories of the majority of players involved in charity work, community projects and other good causes, there are also regular mentions of indiscretions and misdemeanours by players.  The drinking and gambling culture of yesteryear seems to have gone in the main; however there are still sex scandals, assaults, drink drive arrests, and players in the news for all the wrong reasons.  Players have far too much spare time, (and money), is the cry, but has the modern game created a beast in the wrong doers or is it a general decline in Society’s standards?  There are a lot of unsung heroes who when reaching the limelight are tremendous ambassadors for the game and fortunately, the players who attract negative headlines are in the minority.  Like it or not though, footballers are held to a higher standard as a focal point of the sport and as such wield much influence.

Sandro Rosell the Barcelona President, is also the vice president of the European Clubs Association, (ECA), a large group whose members include major Premier League Clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.

The ECA have been discussing radical changes to the organisation of football around the world including the international calendar.  Closer to every day life at home, at a meeting yesterday Señor Rosell put forward a suggestion that the leagues around Europe including the Premier League should be reduced to 16 clubs.  He said, “The objective of reducing from 20 to 16 teams is to give more space to our players.”  “We want a bigger Champions League and hope one day we could play perhaps Barcelona versus Manchester United on Saturdays.  It’s something all of them, (the clubs), would have to agree to.

European ‘Super League’

There is also some sabre rattling going on from the ECA.  Rosell stated, “We want to have the Champions League under the UEFA umbrella but we want UEFA to hear our demands.  We are asking for more revenue.  We are asking for governance, transparency, insurance.  We would like to have a Champions League with more teams.”

His English is not what one would term 'Shakespearean poetry', and his doughy complexion can be compared to a character out of Wallace and Gromit. But, don't be fooled by Mr Capello's unassuming looks. Not just anyone gets selected to be England manager (bar Steve McClaren). And who knows what exactly goes on behind the scenes at the FA headquarters, but, as manager, one would expect that Capello has the final say on the much debated England side.

Weathering the Spanish Storm

Too much reliance has been put on the old favourites. Under the wrath of media pressure, Capello made a bold stand. Question marks hung over the heads of some of the English players, and their capability to play against the current European and World champions. But there were some traits that could not be contested by the many critics - passion, desire, fighting spirit, to name a few.

Yes, it was only a friendly. But when playing at the highest level, in a close to full capacity Wembley Stadium, against a full strength Spanish side, and when witnessing the Spanish players rushing to take a throw-in or a corner in the closing minutes, you know it's much more than that.