Challenges Faced by Pep Guardiola: Obstacles and Turning Points

Resilience and perseverance in the journey of Pep Guardiola. A timeline of obstacles and growth.

Josep "Pep" Guardiola is a highly successful Catalan football manager, currently managing Manchester City since 2016. Previously a player, he is renowned for his tactical innovations and achievements. Guardiola is the only manager to achieve a continental treble twice. He also holds records for consecutive league wins in La Liga, Bundesliga, and the Premier League. Widely regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time, his influence on modern football is undeniable.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1996: Misses Euro 1996

In 1996, Guardiola missed out on UEFA Euro 1996 due to disagreements with Spain coach Javier Clemente.

June 1998: Underwent surgery for calf injury

On 8 June 1998, Guardiola underwent surgery to try to resolve his lingering calf injury, which had caused him to miss the 1998 FIFA World Cup for Spain.

1998: Misses World Cup due to Injury

In 1998, Guardiola suffered a career-threatening injury that kept him out of the year's World Cup.

1999: Injury

In 1999–2000, Guardiola missed the last three months of the season with a serious ankle injury.

2000: Injury

In 1999–2000, Guardiola missed the last three months of the season with a serious ankle injury.

April 2012: Announcement to step down as Barcelona's manager

In April 2012, Barcelona was knocked out of the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea. On April 27, 2012, Guardiola announced he would step down as Barcelona's manager at the end of the 2011–12 season.

2012: Account in Andorra

In 2012, Pep Guardiola had an account open in Andorra until 2012, exploiting the tax amnesty that Mariano Rajoy's conservative government had enacted in Spain to regularise his fiscal situation. Until that point, he had not declared the funds held in that account to the Spanish Tax Agency.

April 2015: Knocked out of the German Cup

On April 28, 2015, Bayern were knocked out of the German Cup in a penalty shoot-out. Bayern had missed all four of their shots.

August 2015: Loss in German Super Cup

On August 1, 2015, Bayern lost in a shoot-out to Wolfsburg in the German Super Cup.

October 2015: First time dropping points in the league

The first time Bayern dropped points in the league was on 30 October 2015 in a 0–0 scoreline against Eintracht Frankfurt.

December 2015: First loss in the league

Bayern's first loss in the league was on 5 December 2015 in a 3–1 scoreline to Borussia Mönchengladbach.

May 2016: Guardiola's final match

On May 3, 2016, Guardiola's Bayern Munich lost to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals stage. Guardiola's final match was on May 21, 2016, with Bayern defeating Borussia Dortmund in a shootout.

January 2017: Biggest-ever managerial defeat in a domestic competition

On January 15, 2017, Manchester City lost to Everton 0–4; this was Guardiola's biggest-ever managerial defeat in a domestic competition.

August 2020: Champions League Quarter-Final Exit

On 15 August 2020, Guardiola's Manchester City faced Lyon in the Champions League quarter-finals. City lost the match 1–3 and was eliminated at the quarter-final stage for the third season in a row.

2021: Third Premier League Title and Champions League Final Loss

In 2021, Guardiola won his third Premier League title on 11 May after Manchester United's defeat to Leicester City, and claimed the EFL Cup for the fourth successive time two weeks earlier. On 29 May 2021, Manchester City played in the Champions League final for the first time in their history, losing to Chelsea 0–1. Guardiola was subsequently criticised for his team selection.

November 2024: Losses and Contract Extension

In November 2024, Manchester City were beaten 2–1 by Brighton & Hove Albion, marking the first time in Guardiola's managerial career that he suffered four losses in a row. Despite speculation, on 22 November 2024, Guardiola signed a two-year contract extension with the club until 2027. However, a day later, Guardiola suffered his heaviest home defeat as Manchester City manager in a 4–0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

2024: Downturn After EFL Cup Loss

In 2024, under Pep Guardiola, Manchester City mirrored the success of the previous campaign by winning the Community Shield and beginning the league season with an unbeaten run. However, the team's fortunes took a downturn following a 1–2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the EFL Cup.

February 2025: Champions League Elimination

On 19 February 2025, Manchester City was eliminated from the 2024-25 Champions League after a 3-6 aggregate loss to Real Madrid. In February 2025, Guardiola criticised his own performance and suggested that he would leave the club if he was the problem.