She is the model with millions of Instagram followers who has lived in Barcelona, Rome, New York, Munich, Qatar, and London. But Maria Guardiola is also the bedrock by her father Pep Guardiola's side as he pursues his seventh—and most impressive—Premier League title with Manchester City.
Maria, the oldest of Guardiola's three children, moved to London five years ago while Pep developed City into an all-conquering force. There, she studied Fashion Business and worked for Victoria Beckham and Helmut Lang before focusing on humanitarian projects.
However, she has always kept her family close and has been seen alongside Pep during his most important career moments. As a child, she witnessed Pep's legendary Barcelona team beat Manchester United in the 2009 Champions League final. More recently, she was at Wembley in March when City gained a huge psychological advantage over title rivals Arsenal by winning the Carabao Cup.
A Shared Competitive Spirit
Maria revealed that she and her father share the same 'stubbornness' and 'tunnel-vision' mindset. 'My father and I joke that I inherited his stubbornness. When we set our minds to something, we pursue it with tunnel vision until we achieve it,' she told Vanity Fair last year.
Maria also sat in Wimbledon's royal box with her father—a massive tennis fan—in 2024, and she has been spotted in the stands in recent weeks as City have hunted Arsenal down in an enthralling title race.
Family Support Through Thick and Thin
'Following my dad around the world to watch games gave me special memories and brought the family together,' she said. 'I feel incredibly grateful for the experiences I've had. Although it was sometimes a challenge, my parents made the transitions easier and helped my siblings and me take advantage of opportunities.'
Maria, who says she was 'raised to understand the privilege of my circumstances', explained that from her mother she inherited 'confidence and a sense of independence.' Her parents have always advised her to find what she's passionate about, to try new things, accept failure, and keep searching until she finds her calling.
Honest Opinions and Family Dynamics
Maria will also happily share her opinion with her father, no matter how honest. Last summer, Pep revealed why he decided to shave off a bold new moustache: 'My daughter said it was horrible so I had to get it off.'
Guardiola and Maria's mother Serra split last year after 12 years of marriage, having been together for three decades. No reason for the divorce was given, but reports suggested his 'workaholic' tendencies were to blame.
The Man City manager's contract is due to expire in 2027, but some have suggested Guardiola could elect to walk away this summer. Guardiola has led Man City to 16 major pieces of silverware during his decade at the club, with March's win over Arsenal giving him a record fifth League Cup success.
