Pep Guardiola Approaches Milestone in Premier League History

Pep Guardiola is set to manage his 1,000th game when Manchester City hosts Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday. The Spanish manager is in awe of his career achievements, having secured six Premier League titles in eight seasons at Manchester City alone.

Since beginning his managerial career with Barcelona B in 2007, Guardiola has accumulated an impressive 715 victories across all competitions. His accolades include 12 top-flight titles, three UEFA Champions League trophies, and just 128 losses, alongside 14 additional cup victories.

When asked by BBC Sport if he is aware of his win total, Guardiola responded, “Of course I know, a lot. The numbers are insane, I’m sorry to tell you. It’s not something I dwell on, but reflecting on milestones reveals the significant achievements we’ve had, both in the Premier League and the Champions League. It’s challenging to reach such heights again; I doubt I could replicate it if I started over.”

Guardiola’s influence on English football is profound, credited with changing the game’s tactical landscape. Under his leadership, Manchester City became the first club to achieve 100 points in a single league season, the first to secure a domestic treble, and the first to win four consecutive league titles.

He remarked, “It might seem like I have false humility, but maintaining a win percentage above 70%—winning seven out of every ten matches—is remarkable. This is achievable due to having exceptional players at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and City. However, it also requires immense hard work, dedication, and passion, which is something that cannot be surpassed.”

On being labeled the greatest manager of all time by some, Guardiola smiled and said, “They are completely right! The historical influence of every manager is significant, and I can assert my place among them based on my success and the enjoyment of watching my teams. However, I never set out with the goal of being the best.”

Guardiola was recently inducted into the League Managers Association (LMA) Hall of Fame, with former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson acknowledging the significance of Guardiola’s longevity in reaching this milestone.

As Manchester City faces Liverpool, a team with which they share a fierce rivalry, Guardiola acknowledged, “We have challenged each other to improve, and that’s been mutually beneficial. If I had to select a rival to share this milestone with, it would undoubtedly be Liverpool. My experiences here have been enriching, influenced by my time at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.”

With 10 losses to Liverpool—jointly the most he has endured against any team—Guardiola has praised them for the competitive spirit they bring. He particularly lauded Jurgen Klopp, stating that Klopp is the manager he has faced the most throughout his career, with Klopp having bested Guardiola 11 times.

“Liverpool, especially under Jurgen, have been my most significant rival in this country. The rivalry has been healthy, and there’s a great respect between us. Jurgen has influenced my approach significantly, and I miss him for that. He has pushed me to elevate my game to beat him.”