Pep Guardiola is regarded as one of the world’s best football managers of this generation. He is certainly one of the most successful.
In 2008, Pep was promoted from managing Barcelona Team B to managing the first team. His 4 year stint at the club saw Barcelona become the world’s most revered football club, scooping cups right, left and centre.
It was everyone’s nightmare to encounter the Spanish club at this time when Lionel Messi was at his peak, with the lethal duo of Xavi and Iniesta. Barcelona easily swept away other teams, big or small, dominating every aspect of play and often winning with many goals.
In his first season in-charge, Pep defeated Manchester United 2-0 in the Champions League final. Barcelona also won the Spanish cup and the league that season, becoming the first Spanish club to win a treble.
His second season was even better, finishing the year with 6 trophies among them the Spanish league and Copa Del Rey.
The following year he reached his second Champions league final, again defeating Manchester United 3-1 at Wembley Stadium.
Domestically, neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor his country-mate Jose Mourinho,who were both at Real Madrid around this time seemed to have any way of stopping them.
It therefore came as a surprise in 2012 when Pep announced that he would be leaving the club and taking a sabbatical. Everyone wanted him as their manager, and there was talk that Manchester United wanted him to replace the retiring Sir Alex Ferguson. Manchester City was also linked to him and so were other big clubs.
Ultimately, Pep decided to join German giants Bayern Munich in 2013.
He spent 3 seasons here, winning the Bundesliga every year, and the domestic cup twice. However, the Champions League evaded him.
In the 2016 – 17 season, Guardiola joined English club Manchester City. The Premier League is regarded as the ultimate league for managers and players alike, and winning here is incredibly difficult.
In his first season in charge, Pep finished without a single trophy – the first time in his managerial career that this had ever happened. It was the kind of welcome many had predicted he would get in England.
He however went on to win the next 2 consecutive league titles.
In this 2019 -20 season, Manchester City have finished second. However, the big question will be whether this is the year Pep Guardiola wins the Champions League, after a nearly 10 year hiatus.
On Friday, Manchester City hosts Real Madrid in a round of 16 match. Check out this todaysbookie for some great odds on that game.
It will not be a simple game, with Pep hosting a Real Madrid that is on fire having just won their own domestic title. City brings with them a 2-1 lead and are actually a strong favourite to take the night according to pundits and bookmakers.
Real Madrid on the other hand are facing selection troubles, with Bale left out of the squad and Ramos out with a red card. Eden Hazard is also in doubt with an ankle injury.
The chances look good for Manchester City, leaving many to ask whether this is the year Pep Guardiola conquers Europe again.
