There is no doubt that Pep Guardiola is one of the best football tacticians in the world at the Moment.There has been a raging debate on whether Pep is the best of the best, especially after he led his Manchester City to a record fourth consecutive league trophy in the just-ended season.
Many detractors point to the 114 charges against Manchester City that are currently under investigation, arguing that Pep’s achievements have been catalyzed by Manchester City’s blatant disregard for the FFP rules.
However, even rival managers such as Jurgen Klopp are in awe of Guardiola. The outgoing Liverpool manager recently stated his belief that the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager is the best in the world.
If you look at dugouts all across Europe, you will see managers who honed their skills under Guardiola’s tutelage.
Guardiola is a disciple of Dutch legend Johan Cruyff, preferring a possession-based style of football. His tactics have evolved over the years, and many coaches study his approach with a keen eye.
Some of the managers who have studied at the school of Pep include:
Luis Enrique
Luis Enrique was Guardiola’s teammate during their playing days at Barcelona. During the first three years of Guardiola’s title-laden four years at Barcelona, Enrique was in charge of the club’s team B.
Luis Enrique
In 2014, Enrique was appointed as the Barcelona head coach. With Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Luis Suarez forming a deadly front three, he led them to a treble.
He retained the La Liga league title the following season. He was in charge for three years, lifting the Copa De La Rey title for all three seasons.
After Spain flopped at the 2018 World Cup, he was tasked with reviving their fortunes. He introduced an exciting playing style but did not lead the Blaugrana to a title.
He is currently the PSG head coach, and immediately led the Parisian giants to a domestic treble.
With star player Kylian Mbappe having said goodbye to the club, it will be interesting to see how Enrique rebuilds the team.
Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso was one of the best midfielders in the world, especially during his days at English giants Liverpool.
Xabi Alonso
He later moved to Real Madrid to play under Jose Mourinho. At the tail end of his football career, Alonso joined Bayern Munich under Pep Guardiola in 2014.
He proved to be an instant hit at Bayern, where he retired one year after Pep left the club.
He went to Real Madrid to coach their youth team, before joining the Real Sociedad B team in 2019.
With their prospects dwindling and in the Bundesliga relegation zone, Bayer Leverkusen took a chance on Alonso at the beginning of the 22/23 season. He had an instant impact at the club, guiding them for Europa League qualification in his first season.
During the 2023/24 season, Alonso shocked the football world by guiding Leverkusen to their first league title, and to a double after also lifting the DFB Pokal trophy. Alonso’s side finished the league unbeaten.
Due to his success, Alonso was linked with Liverpool and Manchester United. But he decided to stay in Germany and signed a contract extension with Bayer Leverkusen.
Xavi
Alongside Andres Iniesta, Xavi was the midfield lynchpin of Pep Guardiola’s artists at Barcelona. He was always seen as a potential heir to his boss at Barcelona.
Xavi
After a managerial stint in Qatar, Xavi was appointed Barcelona manager in November 2021. The team was in a bad state after Ronald Koeman’s disastrous reign.
Things were made worse by Barcelona’s poor finances. Despite these challenges, Xavi was able to lead Barcelona to the La Liga title in the 2022/23 title.
Xavi’s relationship with club president Joan Laport however increasingly became strained. He initially announced that he would leave at the end of this season, but changed his decision.
He later made some comments that angered the Barcelona board, and was relieved off his duties after the conclusion of this season.
Eric Ten Hag
Eric Ten was given the job of coaching Bayern Munich’s B team in 2013, the same time Pep Guardiola took charge of the club’s senior side.
After lifting the Regionalliga Bundesliga league title with the youngsters, the Dutchman left to join FC Utrecht. Ten Hag later joined Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam in 2017.
In his five years at Ajax Amsterdam, he won three league titles and two domestic cups. He also defied the odds by guiding his underdog side to the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League during the 2018/19 season, where they lost a close contest to Tottenham Hotspur.
Current stars such as Barcelona’s Frenkie De Jong and Juventus defender Matthjis de Ligt made their names under Ten Hag at Ajax.
In the past, Ten Hag has waxed lyrical about Pep Guardiola. After that amazing run in the Champions League, the FA Cup winner said that he learned a lot from Guardiola. He said that the Catalan’s football ideology is sensational, adding that he tried to incorporate the same methods at Ajax Amsterdam.
Ten Hag is currently Manchester United’s manager. While his managerial stint at the club has been a bit thorny, he did manage to lift the Carabao Cup during his first season. He has followed that up by lifting the FA Cup this season, beating Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the final.
Eric Ten Hag and Pep Guardiola
Vincent Kompany
The former Manchester City captain was recently the new Bayern Munich manager. During the 2022/23 season, Kompany’s Burnley side had an incredible run in the Championship on their way to getting promoted into the EPL.
However, Burnley were relegated this season after managing just 24 points in the league campaign. Kompany’s decision to stick to the ultra-attacking football that got the team promoted, proved to be his undoing.
Many viewed his total commitment to the football ethos he learned while playing for Guardiola, as naivety.Still, his mentor once proclaimed that Kompany has the capacity to succeed him at Manchester City.
If he does succeed at Bayern Munich, Kompany could find himself in the Manchester City dugout in the near-future.
Pep Coached Kompany at Manchester City
Enzo Maresca
The Italian tactician was recently appointed as the Chelsea head coach, to replace Mauricio Pochettino. Under his leadership in the 2020/21 season, the Manchester City Elite Development youth team lifted their division’s league title.
During that season, Cole Palmer, now at Chelsea, was their best player after finishing with 13 goals and six assists in 16 appearances for the youth side.
After that performance from his charges, Parma decided to take a chance on Maresca. His stint was however short-lived. He was shown the door after just 14 games in the dugout.
Maresca then returned to Manchester City as one of Pep Guardiola’s assistants. After City lifted the treble in the 2022/23 season, the Italian left once again to become the Leicester City manager.
He got the Foxes promoted back into the EPL this season, before leaving to join Chelsea.
Enzo Maresca was one of Pep’s Assistants at Manchester City
With that list of current managers who have been inspired by Pep Guardiola, is he the best manager in the world?
The debate over who is the best tactician will never end. Pep has his admirers, but Carlo Ancelloti has done wonders at Real Madrid, and some may argue his Champions League trophy haul makes him the best.
Jose Mourinho would also be worth a mention, considering his exploits with Porto, Chelsea, and Inter Milan.
