Career in Pictures: Pep Guardiola at Manchester City

Today isn’t just January 18th, it’s also the birthday of arguably the best football manager on the planet – Manchester City chief, Pep Guardiola.

Turning 48 today, the Spaniard has had both an illustrious playing and coaching career to date, winning 41 honours.

Starting off at his boyhood club Barcelona, the midfielder won an array of trophies, including six La Liga titles and the 1992 European Cup.

He would end up captaining the Catalan giants as well as his national team, Spain, for who he represented on 47 occasions.

After finishing his playing career in Mexico in 2006, Guardiola stepped into coaching a year later back at the club where it all started for him as he took on the Barcelona B team.

His natural talent and intense, meticulous coaching methods were apparent straight from the off as he guided the side to the Segunda Division B title.

One man who was certainly impressed was club president Joan Laporta who promoted Pep to first-team boss in the summer of 2008, following Frank Rijkaard’s departure.

The departing Dutchman had won two La Liga, two Spanish Super Cups and the Champions League in his five years at the Camp Nou. Guardiola had some big shoes to fill.

But the passionate Catalan took to the job like a duck to water and, with the help of players such as Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Carles Puyol and the one and only Lionel Messi, they became the dominant force in European football.

In his four years in charge, Pep and his side lifted three La Liga, two Copa Del Rey, three Spanish Super Cup, two Champions League, two UEFA Super Cup and two FIFA Club World Cup trophies.

Despite the success, the serial winner loves to challenge himself and he departed in 2012 before taking the Bayern Munich post in the summer of 2013.

The aim was to take his brand of football to Germany and, despite failing to win the Champions League at the Allianz Arena, he gave the Bundesliga side a new way of playing which helped them win the Bundesliga all three seasons he was in charge.

A new challenge again presented itself in 2016 when Pep was unveiled as Manchester City’s new head coach.

Despite an uncertain first season, in which his side sealed a Champions League spot on the final day of the season, the Cityzens showed signs of what was to come.

What was to come was a record-breaking 2017/18 Premier League campaign in which the Etihad outfit recorded 100 points, scored 106 goals and lost just two matches.

Again, the Champions League has yet to be delivered with last-16 and quarter-final exits respectively, but the League Cup was collected at Wembley in February 2018 and, this term, Pep’s men are still in the hunt for all four trophies.

Already considered a City legend for what he’s dine since arriving at the Etihad, SHOOT has put together five of Guardiola’s defining moments of his career in Manchester so far. Enjoy!

Top-Four Delivered

After winning his first six Premier League matches in charge, Guardiola looked set to compete for the title in his first season at the City helm.

However, a run of seven victories in the following 16 matches not only dashed any title hopes but also had many doubting Pep’s style of football in England.

Going into the final day at Watford, City needed a win to guarantee a top-four finish and they delivered with a 5-0 win (the pictured Sergio Aguero grabbing a brace).

Elimination from the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup made it a first trophyless season as a manager for the Spaniard but it was so important that he at least secured Champions League football.

First Trophy

Guardiola loves winning and he shows that with his team selections, even in the League Cup, which is considered the lowest priority of all the competitions.

After failing to win a trophy for the first season in his career the previous campaign, the Spaniard went all out to get one on the board early in the second year.

And after defeating Championship side Bristol City over two legs in the semi-finals, Pep took his team to face Arsenal at Wembley.

It was the same opponent and venue City tasted defeat in the FA Cup semi-final in April 2017, but goals from Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and David Silva ensured a 3-0 victory and a defining first trophy in the colours of blue and white for Guardiola.

Champions League Misery

After a surprise defeat by a then in-form Monaco in the last-16 in 2017, many tipped Guardiola to take City to Europe’s top trophy last term.

However, his side were drawn against an inspired Liverpool, who had inflicted a first Premier League defat on the Cityzens in January, in the quarter-finals.

After a 3-0 defeat against Jurgen Klopp’s side at Anfield, Pep had it all to do to get his team to turn it around in the second-leg.

Things looked promising when Gabriel Jesus netted in the second minute but, following a few close refereeing calls, City and their boss, who was sent off at half-time, lost their way.

As Guardiola watched from the stands, Liverpool turned things around in the second half with two goals to leaving him without a Champions League winners’ medal since 2011.

Centurions

The Premier League trophy had been basically wrapped up earlier in the year due to the dominance City had over the rest of the division.

But even when the title was won Guardiola wanted his side to go down in history by becoming the first team in the top-flight’s current format to reach 100 points.

To do so the champions needed to defeat Southampton on the final day of the season.

With the score at 0-0 in the 94th minute it looked as though they would just fall short until Gabriel Jesus popped up with a last gasp winner to spark scenes of celebrations.

Title Deciding Win?

Although it was played down in the build-up, Guardiola knew that failing to beat Liverpool in January would give his side a mountain to climb if they wanted to retain their crown.

Seven points behind the rampant Reds after two defeats against Crystal Palace and Leicester City over Christmas, the pressure was firmly on City at the Etihad.

And in what was a high-quality Premier League encounter, the Cityzens came out 2-1 winners thanks to Leroy Sane’s second half winner.

We don’t yet know whether this is a defining moment in this season’s title race but it certainly feels like it will have a big part to play.