Legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly once said football was "much more important than life or death," but for Pep Guardiola, several issues outside the "beautiful game" matter almost as much.

The 55-year-old Spaniard will step down as Manchester City manager on Sunday after winning 20 trophies in 10 years.

From Palestinian children to Catalan independence and homelessness in the UK, Guardiola has used his platform to advocate for a diverse range of causes.

His most recent foray into sensitive political territory has been his passionate embrace of the plight of Palestinian children in Gaza. The war has killed at least 72,568 people, including many children.

In January, at a charity event in Barcelona, Guardiola wore a Palestinian keffiyeh and said, "I think we have left them alone, abandoned."

His remarks drew criticism from Manchester's Jewish community, who warned his comments put Jewish lives at risk. However, Guardiola remained unbowed.

In February, he condemned violence not only in the Middle East but also in Ukraine, Sudan, and the US, stating, "When you have to kill thousands of people... I will stand up. Always."

He has also focused on homelessness in the UK through his Guardiola Sala Foundation, supporting the Salvation Army's Partnership Trophy football tournament.

Source: www.aljazeera.com