Pep Guardiola facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Pep Guardiola

Guardiola with Manchester City in 2017
Personal information
Date of birth	(1971-01-18) 18 January 1971 (age 54)
Place of birth	Santpedor, Spain
Height	1.80 m
Playing position	Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current club	Manchester City (manager)
Youth career
1981–1984	Gimnàstic Manresa
1984–1990	Barcelona
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1988–1989	Barcelona C	8	(1)
1990–1992	Barcelona B	53	(5)
1990–2001	Barcelona	263	(6)
2001–2002	Brescia	11	(2)
2002–2003	Roma	4	(0)
2003	Brescia	13	(1)
2003–2005	Al-Ahli	36	(5)
2005–2006	Dorados	10	(1)
Total		398	(21)
National team
1991	Spain U21	2	(0)
1991–1992	Spain U23	12	(2)
1992–2001	Spain	47	(5)
1995–2005	Catalonia	7	(0)
Teams managed
2007–2008	Barcelona B
2008–2012	Barcelona
2013–2016	Bayern Munich
2016–	Manchester City
Honours Men's football Representing  Spain Olympic Games Gold 1992 Barcelona Team
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Josep "Pep" Guardiola Sala (born 18 January 1971) is a famous Spanish football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of the Premier League club Manchester City. Many people think he is one of the greatest football managers of all time.

As a player, Guardiola was a defensive midfielder. This means he played in the middle of the field, helping to protect the defense and start attacks. He spent most of his playing career with Barcelona. He was part of their famous "Dream Team" that won the European Cup in 1992. He also won four Spanish league titles in a row. Later, he played for clubs in Italy, Qatar, and Mexico. He also played 47 times for the Spanish national team.

After he stopped playing, Guardiola became a coach. He first managed Barcelona B, the club's reserve team. Then, in 2008, he became the manager of the main Barcelona team. In his first year, he led Barcelona to win three major trophies: the Spanish league, the Spanish cup, and the UEFA Champions League. This is called a "continental treble." He was the youngest manager to win the Champions League. He won 14 trophies with Barcelona in just four years, which was a club record!

After a break, Guardiola coached Bayern Munich in Germany. He won the German league title in all three seasons he was there. In 2016, he moved to Manchester City in England. With Manchester City, he has won six Premier League titles. In the 2017–18 season, his team became the first to get 100 points in a single Premier League season. In 2019, he led City to win three domestic trophies in England, which is called a "domestic treble." In 2023, he led Manchester City to win their first-ever Champions League title, completing his second continental treble.

Pep Guardiola: Football Star

Playing Days

Early Years at Barcelona

Pep Guardiola was born in Santpedor, Spain. He joined Barcelona's youth academy, called La Masia, when he was 13 years old. He played there for six years before making his first team debut in 1990.

A famous coach named Johan Cruyff saw Guardiola play for the youth team. Cruyff told the coach to move Guardiola to the middle of the field, as a "pivot" or defensive midfielder. This was a new position for Guardiola, but he quickly learned it. When he joined the first team in 1990, he became a key player in Cruyff's "Dream Team."

21-year-old Guardiola (right), pictured with FC Barcelona teammates Guillermo Amor, Albert Ferrer, and club vice-president Josep Mussons, in 1992

Guardiola became a regular player in the 1991–92 season. At only 20 years old, he helped Barcelona win the Spanish league and their first-ever European Cup. His team continued to win the Spanish league title for the next two seasons (1992–93 and 1993–94). In 1994, Barcelona reached the Champions League final again, but they lost to AC Milan.

In 1997, Guardiola became Barcelona's captain. However, he had many injuries, especially a calf muscle injury. This caused him to miss many games, including most of the 1997–98 season. Even with his injuries, Barcelona won the league and cup double that season.

Leaving Barcelona

On 11 April 2001, Guardiola announced he would leave Barcelona after 17 years. He said it was a personal choice. He felt football was changing to a more physical style, and he wanted to try something new.

On 24 June 2001, Guardiola played his last game for Barcelona. He played 479 games for the first team over 12 seasons. He won 16 trophies with the club. Many future Barcelona midfielders, like Xavi and Andrés Iniesta, looked up to Guardiola as their hero.

Life After Barcelona

After leaving Barcelona in 2001, Guardiola joined Brescia in Italy. He played alongside famous player Roberto Baggio. He then moved to Roma. His time in Italy was not very successful.

In 2003, Guardiola moved to Qatar to play for Al-Ahli in Doha. In 2005, he decided his playing career was ending. In 2006, he played for Dorados in Mexico for six months. He played ten games before retiring due to injuries.

International Career

Playing for Spain

On 14 October 1992, Guardiola played his first game for the Spain national football team. In the same year, he helped Spain win a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games. He also won the Bravo Award in 1992, given to the world's best player under 21.

Guardiola played for Spain in the 1994 FIFA World Cup. They reached the quarter-finals but lost to Italy. He missed the 1998 World Cup due to an injury. He later played in UEFA Euro 2000, where Spain again reached the quarter-finals. His last game for Spain was on 14 November 2001.

Playing for Catalonia

Guardiola also played for the Catalonia national football team. This team plays friendly matches, not official competitions. He played seven friendly matches for Catalonia between 1995 and 2005. He has always supported the team and its cause.

Player Profile

How He Played

Guardiola was a very smart and creative player. He was known for his good thinking, understanding of the game, and ability to read what was happening on the field. He usually played as a defensive midfielder, protecting the defense.

Even though he wasn't very fast or strong, Guardiola was excellent with the ball. He had great control and could pass the ball very accurately, both short and long. He was calm under pressure and could keep the ball well. He would set the pace for his team's play. He was also a strong leader, captaining both Barcelona and the Spanish national team.

Becoming a Coach

Coaching Barcelona B

On 21 June 2007, Guardiola became the manager of Barcelona B, the club's second team. His assistant was Tito Vilanova. Under his leadership, the team won their league group and got promoted to a higher division.

In May 2008, Barcelona's president announced that Guardiola would become the manager of the main Barcelona team. He would replace Frank Rijkaard.

First Season: The Treble

Guardiola managing Barcelona in 2009

When Guardiola took over, he made some big changes. He decided that famous players like Ronaldinho and Deco were not part of his plans. He brought in new players like Dani Alves and Gerard Piqué. He also promoted young players from the academy, such as Sergio Busquets and Pedro. Guardiola emphasized hard work and a close relationship with his players.

His first official game as manager was in the UEFA Champions League. Barcelona won easily. In the Spanish league, they lost their first game but then went on a long winning streak. Barcelona won the league title in May 2009. A key moment was when they beat their rivals Real Madrid 6–2.

Before that, on 13 May, Barcelona won the Spanish Cup. Then, in the Champions League final, Barcelona beat Manchester United 2–0. By winning these three trophies (league, cup, and Champions League), Barcelona achieved the "treble." Guardiola became the youngest manager to win the Champions League at 37 years old. This season is remembered as one of the best in the club's history.

Six Trophies in One Year

Guardiola in 2010

Guardiola's second season started with more wins. Barcelona won the Spanish Super Cup and the UEFA Super Cup. On 19 December 2009, they won the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time.

Guardiola ended the year 2009 with a record six trophies! This included the Spanish League, Spanish Cup, Champions League, Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup, and Club World Cup. He was the first manager in history to win all six trophies in a calendar year.

In February 2010, Guardiola managed his 100th game for Barcelona. He had a great record of 71 wins, 19 draws, and 10 losses. On 10 April 2010, he became the first Barcelona manager to beat Real Madrid four times in a row. Barcelona won their 20th Spanish league title that season with 99 points. This was Guardiola's seventh trophy as manager.

Winning the Champions League Again

On 21 August 2010, Barcelona won the Spanish Super Cup again. On 29 November 2010, Barcelona beat Real Madrid 5–0, giving Guardiola five straight wins against them.

On 11 May 2011, Barcelona won the Spanish league title for the third time in a row. On 28 May, Barcelona beat Manchester United 3–1 in the Champions League final at Wembley Stadium. This was Guardiola's second Champions League title as a manager.

Last Season at Barcelona

The 2011–12 season started with another Spanish Super Cup win against Real Madrid. On 26 August, Barcelona won their second trophy of the season, beating Porto in the UEFA Super Cup. With this trophy, Guardiola became the manager with the most titles won at Barcelona, with 12 trophies in just three years.

In November 2011, Guardiola managed his 200th game for Barcelona. His record was 144 wins, 39 draws, and 17 losses. Barcelona ended 2011 by winning the Club World Cup, beating Santos 4–0. This was Guardiola's 13th title out of 16 tournaments he had coached. In January 2012, he was named FIFA World Coach of the Year.

On 27 April 2012, Guardiola announced he would leave Barcelona at the end of the season. He said he was tired and that four years at a club like Barcelona felt like a very long time. Guardiola's time at Barcelona ended with a 3–0 win in the Spanish Cup final. He won 14 trophies in four seasons, making him the most successful manager in Barcelona's history.

Break Time in New York

After leaving Barcelona, Guardiola took a year off. He lived in New York City. He said he wanted to return to coaching but hadn't decided where yet.

Coaching Bayern Munich

Winning in Germany

Guardiola managing Bayern Munich in 2013

On 16 January 2013, it was announced that Guardiola would become the manager of Bayern Munich in Germany. He started in June 2013. His first trophy with Bayern was the 2013 UEFA Super Cup.

In December 2013, Guardiola won his third Club World Cup title. On 25 March 2014, he led Bayern to win their 23rd Bundesliga title. They won it with seven games left, which was the earliest any team had won the championship in Bundesliga history. Guardiola also set a record for the longest winning streak to start his time at a Bundesliga club.

Bayern reached the semi-finals of the Champions League but lost to Real Madrid. He finished the 2013–14 season by winning the German Cup.

Guardiola in 2014

In the 2014–15 season, Bayern lost the German Super Cup. However, they won their fourth straight Champions League semi-final. On 28 April 2015, Bayern were knocked out of the German Cup in a penalty shootout. In his first game against his old club Barcelona, Bayern lost 3–0.

Final Season in Germany

Guardiola during a press conference in 2015

The 2015–16 season began with another loss in the German Super Cup. But in the league, Bayern won their first ten matches. They won their Champions League group, winning five out of six games.

On 20 December, Bayern announced that Guardiola would leave the club when his contract ended. He wanted to try a new challenge. On 3 May 2016, Bayern lost in the Champions League semi-finals, meaning Guardiola would not win that trophy with them. His last game was on 21 May 2016, when Bayern won the German Cup in a shootout. He had a great record in Germany, winning the league every year.

Coaching Manchester City

First Season in England

On 1 February 2016, Manchester City signed Guardiola to a three-year contract. He started managing the team in the 2016–17 season. He brought in new players like İlkay Gündoğan, Leroy Sané, and John Stones. He also changed the goalkeeper, bringing in Claudio Bravo.

On 13 August 2016, Guardiola won his first Premier League match. On 11 September, he won his first Manchester derby against José Mourinho's Manchester United.

City's form dropped later in the season. They lost 0–4 to Everton, which was Guardiola's biggest loss in a domestic league game. In the Champions League, City were knocked out in the round of 16. Guardiola finished his first season without a trophy, which was a first for him as a manager.

"Centurions" and First Premier League Title

Guardiola giving instructions to Nicolás Otamendi during a friendly match against Tottenham Hotspur in the 2017 International Champions Cup

For the 2017–18 season, Guardiola focused on improving City's defense. He signed a new goalkeeper, Ederson, and new full-backs, Benjamin Mendy and Kyle Walker.

On 25 February 2018, City won the EFL Cup, beating Arsenal 3–0. This was Guardiola's first trophy with Manchester City. On 15 April, City were confirmed as Premier League champions. They finished the season with a record-breaking 100 points, earning them the nickname "Centurions." After this success, Guardiola signed a new contract with City until 2021.

Domestic Treble and Champions League Challenges

In the 2018–19 season, Manchester City signed Riyad Mahrez. On 5 August 2018, City won the 2018 FA Community Shield.

On 24 February 2019, City won the EFL Cup final again, beating Chelsea on penalties. In the Champions League, City faced Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter-finals. They lost the first game 0–1. In the second game, City won 4–3, but a last-minute goal was disallowed. Tottenham went through on away goals.

On 12 May, Guardiola's team won their second straight Premier League title. They finished with 98 points, just one point ahead of Liverpool. On 18 May, City beat Watford 6–0 in the FA Cup final. This made them the first men's team in England to win a "domestic treble" (Premier League, FA Cup, and EFL Cup) in one season.

In 2019, City signed João Cancelo and Rodri. These signings made City the first club in the world to have a squad worth over €1 billion. On 4 August 2019, City won the Community Shield again. On 1 March 2020, Manchester City won the EFL Cup for the third season in a row. City finished second in the Premier League that season. In the Champions League, they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Lyon.

Premier League Four-Peat and Champions League Win

The 2020–21 season saw City's defense become much stronger. On 19 November 2020, Guardiola signed a new contract until 2023. He won his 500th game as manager on 31 January 2021. On 10 February, his team broke the record for the longest winning run in English top-flight football history, with fifteen straight victories.

Guardiola won his third Premier League title on 11 May 2021. Two weeks earlier, they had won the EFL Cup for the fourth time in a row. On 29 May, Manchester City played in their first-ever Champions League final, but they lost 0–1 to Chelsea.

Guardiola as manager of Manchester City in 2021

In 2021, Manchester City broke the British transfer record by signing midfielder Jack Grealish. On 25 September, Guardiola became the manager with the most wins in Manchester City history. On 22 May 2022, Manchester City won the Premier League again, making it Guardiola's fourth title with the club.

In the 2022–23 season, Manchester City won their third consecutive Premier League title, and fifth under Guardiola. On 23 November 2022, he signed a new contract until 2025. On 3 June 2023, the club won their second FA Cup under Guardiola, beating Manchester United in the final. On 10 June 2023, he led the club to their first Champions League title, and his personal third. This completed their "continental treble" (Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League).

On 16 August 2023, Guardiola won a record-equaling fourth UEFA Super Cup title. He became the first manager to win this trophy with three different clubs. On 22 December, Guardiola guided City to their first FIFA Club World Cup trophy. They became the first English club to win five titles in a calendar year. With this, Guardiola became the first manager in history to win four FIFA Club World Cup titles.

In May 2024, Manchester City won their fourth straight Premier League title, a historic achievement in English football. However, they lost the FA Cup Final, ending their chance for another domestic double. In November 2024, Guardiola signed a new contract with City until 2027.

Manager Profile

How He Coaches

Guardiola's teams are known for keeping the ball a lot and making the other team chase it. They also press the opponent very hard when they don't have the ball. This means players work together to win the ball back quickly, especially high up the field.

Guardiola likes his goalkeepers and defenders to be good with the ball. They help start attacks from the back. He has said he always tries to change and improve his tactics. He learned a lot from his own coaches, like Johan Cruyff. He also learned from other coaches he admired.

His tactics have influenced many other managers. Guardiola's teams are known for quick passing, keeping possession, and a high defensive line. He has used different formations, like the 4–3–3 and 3–4–3. He also sometimes uses a "false 9," which is a forward who drops back into midfield to create more players in the middle. Recently, he has used a 3–2–2–3 formation, with a defender like John Stones playing a special role in midfield.

Personal Life

Guardiola was born to Dolors and Valentí. He has two older sisters and a younger brother, Pere Guardiola, who is a football agent.

Guardiola met his wife Cristina Serra when he was 18. They got married on 29 May 2014. They have three children: Maria, Màrius, and Valentina.

After leaving Barcelona, he lived in New York City for a year. To prepare for coaching Bayern Munich, he studied German for several hours each day.

Guardiola supports the idea of Catalonia becoming an independent country. In 2015, he took part in a pro-independence group for a regional election.

In May 2023, Guardiola made a small appearance in the TV show Ted Lasso. He is reportedly a fan of the show.

Career Statistics

Player Stats

International Goals

Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Guardiola goal

List of international goals scored by Pep Guardiola

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	16 December 1992	Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain	2	Latvia	2–0	5–0	1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
2	27 June 1994	Soldier Field, Chicago, United States	12	Bolivia	1–0	3–1	1994 FIFA World Cup
3	14 December 1996	Mestalla, Valencia, Spain	18	Yugoslavia	1–0	2–0	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
4	12 February 1997	José Rico Pérez, Alicante, Spain	20	Malta	1–0	4–0	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
5	3 June 2000	Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden	35	Sweden	1–0	1–1	Friendly

Managerial Record

Honours

As a Player

Barcelona B

• Segunda División B: 1990–91

Barcelona

• La Liga: 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1997–98, 1998–99
• Copa del Rey: 1996–97, 1997–98
• Supercopa de España: 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996
• European Cup: 1991–92
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1996–97
• European Super Cup: 1992

Spain U23

• Olympic Games Gold Medal: 1992

Individual Awards

• Bravo Award: 1992
• Olympics – Spain Best Player: 1992
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2000

As a Manager

Barcelona B

• Tercera División: 2007–08

Barcelona

• La Liga: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11
• Copa del Rey: 2008–09, 2011–12
• Supercopa de España: 2009, 2010, 2011
• UEFA Champions League: 2008–09, 2010–11
• UEFA Super Cup: 2009, 2011
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2009, 2011

Bayern Munich

• Bundesliga: 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16
• DFB-Pokal: 2013–14, 2015–16
• UEFA Super Cup: 2013
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2013

Manchester City

• Premier League: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
• FA Cup: 2018–19, 2022–23
• EFL Cup: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21
• FA Community Shield: 2018, 2019, 2024
• UEFA Champions League: 2022–23
• UEFA Super Cup: 2023
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2023

Individual Awards

• Don Balón Award: 2009, 2010
• Miguel Muñoz Trophy: 2008–09, 2009–10
• Onze d'Or Coach of the Year: 2009, 2011, 2012
• World Soccer Magazine World Manager of the Year: 2009, 2011
• IFFHS World's Best Club Coach: 2009, 2011, 2023
• UEFA Team of the Year Best Coach: 2008–09, 2010–11
• La Liga Coach of the Year: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
• FIFA World Coach of the Year: 2011
• Globe Soccer Awards Coach Career Award: 2013
• Globe Soccer Awards Coach of the Century: 2020
• Premier League Manager of the Month: February 2017, September 2017, October 2017, November 2017, December 2017, February 2019, April 2019, January 2021, February 2021, November 2021, December 2021
• Premier League Manager of the Season: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2022–23, 2023–24
• LMA Manager of the Year: 2017–18, 2020–21, 2022–23
• LMA Premier League Manager of the Year: 2017–18, 2020–21, 2022–23, 2023–24
• League Managers Association (LMA) Hall of Fame
• UEFA Men's Coach of the Year: 2022–23
• The Best FIFA Football Coach: 2022-23

Decorations

• Gold Medal Royal Order of Sports Merit: 2010
• Catalan of the Year Award: 2009