Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola’s choice of a £270 flannel shirt from Swedish brand Our Legacy during last Tuesday’s Champions League loss to Real Madrid has generated more discussion than the defeat itself. The grungy look, from cult label Our Legacy, prompted speculation about whether the Catalan coach has hired a stylist or is simply embracing a new phase in his career.
Guardiola’s stylistic pivot continued in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal, where he wore a navy turtleneck and brown wool herringbone trousers. Fashion and sports journalist Daniel-Yaw Miller suggests the shift signals a manager renegotiating his identity: “He’s reached that point when people start thinking about the years beyond management and style is often a tool to communicate that – to signal that they’re ready to have a bit more fun.”
Historically, football managers have had two wardrobe options: tracksuits or suits. Arsène Wenger broke the mould in the 1990s with his bookish, bespectacled look and iconic long coats, while José Mourinho favoured Armani suits that conveyed a louche authority. Guardiola, who briefly modelled for Catalan designer Antonio Miró, has evolved from sharp suits at Barcelona to club kit at Bayern and now to younger, more expressive brands like Rick Owens and Stone Island at City.
His new look contrasts with younger Premier League managers. Mikel Arteta opts for quarter-zips and cashmere, while Liam Rosenior has been mocked for hoodies under suit jackets. Brighton’s Fabian Hürzeler, at 31, dresses younger than some players. Guardiola’s wardrobe change may hint at a man ready for life beyond management, with the handbrake off both in his fashion and his demeanour.
