Pep Guardiola

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Guardiola was a defensive midfielder who usually played in a deep-lying playmaker's role. He spent the majority of his career with Barcelona, forming a part of Johan Cruyff's Dream Team that won the club's first European Cup in 1992, and four successive Spanish league titles from 1991 to 1994. He captained the team from 1997 until his departure from Barcelona in 2001. Guardiola then had stints with Brescia and Roma in Italy, Al-Ahli in Qatar and Dorados in Mexico. He was capped 47 times for the Spanish national team and appeared at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, as well as at UEFA Euro 2000. He also played friendly matches for Catalonia.

In Their Own Story

After retiring as a player, Guardiola briefly managed Barcelona B and won the Tercera División title before taking charge of the first team in 2008. In his first season, Guardiola led Barcelona to the continental treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League, becoming the youngest manager to win the latter competition. He was named the FIFA World Coach of the Year in 2011 after leading the club to another La Liga and Champions League double in the 2010–11 season. Guardiola ended his four-year Barcelona stint in 2012 with 14 honours, a club record.

Reader's Guide

After retiring as a player, Guardiola briefly managed Barcelona B and won the Tercera División title before taking charge of the first team in 2008. In his first season, Guardiola led Barcelona to the continental treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League, becoming the youngest manager to win the latter competition. He was named the FIFA World Coach of the Year in 2011 after leading the club to another La Liga and Champions League double in the 2010–11 season. Guardiola ended his four-year Barcelona stint in 2012 with 14 honours, a club record. Guardiola joined Bayern Munich in 2013 and won the Bundesliga in each of the three seasons, including two domestic doubles. He left the club for Manchester City in 2016 and won six Premier League titles, including four successive wins from 2021 to 2024, marking the first time in the history of the English top flight that a team has done so. His first title in his second season in charge broke numerous domestic records as the team became the first to attain 100 points in a single season. He also led City to a domestic treble in 2018–19. Guardiola guided City to their first Champions League final in 2020–21, and their first Champions League title as part of his second continental treble in 2022–23, winning 20 major trophies across his tenure. He holds the record for the longest serving manager by matches managed at the club. He departed Manchester City at the conclusion of the 2025–26 season.

Did You Know?

• Guardiola made his Barcelona debut in 1990 against Cádiz.
• He was named Barcelona captain in 1997 under manager Louis van Gaal.
• Guardiola played 479 games in 12 seasons for Barcelona's first team, winning 16 trophies.
• He was banned for four months for testing positive for nandrolone while at Roma, but was later cleared of all charges in 2009.
• Guardiola scored his last international goal for Spain against Sweden in a 1–1 friendly draw.