Guardiola Approaches Milestone with Historic Rivalry in Focus

In a distinguished managerial career spanning 18 years with notable spells at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and currently Manchester City, Pep Guardiola is poised to lead his team in his 1,000th match as a head coach this weekend.

It is particularly fitting that the 54-year-old reaches this significant milestone against Liverpool, a club that has presented him with formidable challenges during his trophy-laden tenure at City.

Now in his 10th season at City, Guardiola has secured six Premier League titles at the Etihad Stadium, notably overcoming Klopp’s Liverpool in both the 2018-19 and 2021-22 seasons. In the two seasons where Guardiola did not clinch the league title, Liverpool emerged victorious—first under Klopp in 2019-20 and then again in the 2024-25 season with current manager Arne Slot.

Although Guardiola has had a renowned rivalry with José Mourinho during their tenures at Barcelona and Real Madrid, he recognizes Klopp as the counterpart who has challenged him the most.

Ahead of Sunday’s historic match, Guardiola remarked, “If I were to choose one rival for this personal milestone that I want to share with many people, they [Klopp’s Liverpool] would be the best. I’ve been longer than ever in this country. Barcelona had an undeniable impact on my life, but Liverpool, especially with Jürgen, have been my biggest rivals in this country.”

Klopp’s influence on Guardiola is evident; the City manager expressed that he “misses” competing against the 58-year-old, who has been away from management since departing Liverpool in the summer of 2024.

“In terms of Jürgen’s side or Pep’s side, I believe we respected each other. I felt that Jürgen pushed me to think, work, and improve to overcome him,” Guardiola added.

Reflecting on his remarkable longevity as a manager, particularly in highly pressured roles at Barcelona, Bayern, and City, Guardiola acknowledged the challenges inherent in life on the touchline.

“The numbers are astonishing. I’m not focused on the quantity, but when you reach a milestone and contemplate your achievements—victories, averages—not just in the Premier League but in the Champions League as well, it’s clear we have accomplished extraordinary feats at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and here at City. Achieving this is incredibly difficult.”

As City prepares for their match against Slot’s Liverpool, they aim to make the day even more special for Guardiola. The 10-time champions are in excellent form, having lost only one of their last 13 fixtures across all competitions. Meanwhile, Liverpool is experiencing a resurgence following a challenging period, with recent victories against Aston Villa in the league and Real in the Champions League, both contributing to their growing momentum.