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'They had the Messi of basketball' - Osorio explains influence of NBA great Phil Jackson

The Mexico manager says his influences extended far beyond simply other football managers, with the legendary NBA squad holding a special place

ARLINGTON, Texas — Mexico manager Juan Carlos Oosrio often pays tribute to soccer's top managers, praising coaching giants like Pep Guardiola, Marcelo Bielsa and Sir Alex Ferguson. However, when he was embarking upon the path to becoming a coach, he also took inspiration from another sport altogether.

The 56-year-old Colombian said Monday that during the 80s and 90s he studied on-court movement in basketball. Later he read about former Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson's methods of motivating players who already had plenty of talent on their own and has incorporated many of those lessons into his own management style.