Pep Guardiola has brought the curtain down on a decade in English football as Manchester City manager, leaving as the most successful and transformative figure the Premier League has ever seen. The Catalan boss, who announced his departure after ten years at the Etihad, claimed 'nothing is eternal' — but his legacy will prove him wrong.
A Decade of Dominance
Guardiola's time in England felt a long time coming after his triumphs at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but it was worth the wait. None of us expected a man renowned for his intensity to stick around for a full decade. When he left Barcelona after four years, he said he was worn out; when he called time on City, he stated: 'Deep inside I know it’s my time. Nothing is eternal.' Yet one thing is eternal: what he leaves behind.
Much like older generations still light up when mentioning Brian Clough or Johan Cruyff, many will light up when speaking about Guardiola in years to come. There was a book written about his time at Barcelona by Spanish journalist Guillem Balague called Another Way of Winning, and that way has followed him wherever he has gone.
Unprecedented Success
Guardiola's football was unlike anything seen in this country. The 2017/18 season, when City racked up an unprecedented 100 points, marked the start of a golden age that never faded. His relentlessness best sums up the 55-year-old from Santpedor. Winning never seemed enough; clips of him intensely giving instructions during trophy celebrations provide an insight into the man.
In 2018/19, City downed Liverpool by a point, and in 2023/24 they overhauled Arsenal, showcasing a team incapable of slipping up. They won 14 straight to finish in 2019 and 18 of their final 21 in 2024. That sense of 'Guardiola's coming' felt like it needed the music from Jaws to hammer home its ominous nature.
Adapting and Overcoming
Guardiola's City side have been the hunters, the hunted, and the team that sailed off into the sunset. On every occasion, their level, standards, and desire never faltered. Every game, every rival, every challenge: his non-stop brain found a way to figure them all out. From struggles at Anfield to Thomas Tuchel having his number early on, the Catalan eventually navigated them all.
The money spent will always be used as a stick to poke him with, but those who cite that as the reason for his success ignore the transfer business of rivals who have spent more and won less. Guardiola made getting 90-plus points the new standard for winning the Premier League — levels that may never be seen again.
Developing Players and Managers
Players reached new heights because of him: Rodri became the first Spanish player to win the men's Ballon d'Or since 1960. Managers were unearthed because of him, best summed up by his former assistant Mikel Arteta becoming a Premier League winner this season.
Comparison often comes with emotion. No one at Old Trafford will see anyone other than Sir Alex Ferguson as the best, and Chelsea supporters may insist Jose Mourinho at his peak would beat them all. But what Guardiola produced on the pitch, backed by numbers, is unparalleled. His wins, titles, four consecutive titles, the treble, and a domestic treble — which Ferguson once claimed was 'impossible' — all belong to the Catalan.
A Lasting Impression
Roy Keane has often remarked that 'your eyes don't lie to you' when you watch games. Anyone who has watched Guardiola's City side cannot be anything but impressed. It is the highest level of football ever seen in this country, with adaptations from the 2018-era, closest to his Barcelona side, to the 2023 treble-winning side that used a genuine No. 9. In between, Guardiola proved he did not even need a striker to win leagues, playing with six midfielders and wingers in front of his back four.
Despite his exploits at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Guardiola had his cynics. He himself mentioned the 'Fraudiola' nickname from his underwhelming debut year. Those who made that comment have gone into hiding. The 1-0 win at Chelsea in 2017, when the Blues were champions, was a moment that signaled this period was coming. Winning months later at Manchester United, setting a then-record for consecutive wins, ended with Guardiola reminding people that his way of playing was not limited to Spain or Germany.
'People said you will not be able to do that in England. Ok, We will try,' Guardiola said upon his arrival. He did more than try, and it was a pleasure to watch.
