History of Pep Guardiola in Timeline
Josep "Pep" Guardiola is a highly successful Catalan football manager, currently managing Manchester City. He is renowned for his tactical innovation and achievements, including being one of only two managers to win the continental treble twice. Guardiola holds records for consecutive league wins in La Liga, Bundesliga, and the Premier League, solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest football managers in history.
January 1971: Pep Guardiola Born
In January 1971, Josep "Pep" Guardiola Sala was born. He is now a Catalan football manager, currently managing Manchester City, and a former player from Spain.
1990: Guardiola Debuts Against Cádiz
In 1990, Guardiola made his debut for Barcelona against Cádiz, after rising through the ranks of Barcelona's youth academy for six years, after joining La Masia at age 13.
1990: Move to Pivot Position Suggested by Cruyff
In 1990, Johan Cruyff suggested that Charly Rexach move Guardiola into the middle to play as pivot, and when he moved to the first-team, he became the pivot of the Dream Team.
1991: First-Team Regular
In the 1991-92 season, Guardiola became a first-team regular for Barcelona.
October 1992: Gold Medal at Barcelona Olympic Games
In October 1992, Guardiola helped Spain win a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games.
October 1992: Debuts for Spain National Football Team
On October 14, 1992, Guardiola debuted for the Spain national football team in a friendly match against Northern Ireland.
1993: La Liga Title Retained
1994: Champions League Final Appearance
In 1994, Barcelona reached the UEFA Champions League final, but lost to AC Milan.
1994: Guardiola appeared at the 1994 FIFA World Cup
In 1994, Guardiola appeared at the FIFA World Cup for the Spanish national team.
1994: FIFA World Cup
In 1994, Guardiola was a member of the Spanish team during the FIFA World Cup, where they reached the quarter-finals.
1995: Played for Catalonia Football Team
In 1995, Guardiola played for and advocated on behalf of the Catalonia football team. Between 1995 and 2005, he played seven friendly matches for Catalonia.
1995: Barcelona finishes fourth
In the 1994-95 season, Barcelona finished fourth.
1996: Cruyff Leaves and Guardiola Retains Position
In 1996, Cruyff left Barcelona, but Guardiola retained his position at the centre of Barcelona's midfield.
1996: Barcelona Wins Three Cups
In the 1996-97 season, Barcelona, led by Bobby Robson, won three cups: the Copa del Rey, the Supercopa de España, and the European Cup Winners' Cup.
1997: Guardiola Captains Barcelona
In 1997, Guardiola became the captain of the Barcelona team.
1997: Named Barcelona Captain
In 1997, Guardiola was named Barcelona captain under new manager Louis van Gaal, but a calf muscle injury ruled Guardiola out of most of the 1997–98 season.
1998: Missed out on World Cup 1998
In 1998, Guardiola suffered a career-threatening injury which kept him out of the year's World Cup.
1999: End of Season Surgery
In the 1999-2000 season, Guardiola underwent surgery, missing the last three months of the season with a serious ankle injury.
2000: End of Season Surgery
The 1999-2000 season ended in surgery for Guardiola, with Guardiola missing the last three months of the season with a serious ankle injury.
April 2001: Announcement to Leave Barcelona
On April 11, 2001, Barcelona's captain announced his intention to leave the club after 17 years of service.
June 2001: Last Match with Barcelona
On June 24, 2001, Guardiola played his last match with Barcelona in the final game of the season against Celta Vigo. Guardiola played 479 games in 12 seasons for the first team, winning 16 trophies.
2001: Signs Contract Extension
In 2001, Guardiola signed a new contract with Barcelona that extended his stay until 2001.
2001: Best Tempo Dictator
In 2001, Josè Maria Orobitg, his agent, described him as the best in the world at dictating the tempo and rhythm of his team's play.
2003: Joins Al-Ahli
In 2003, after his career with Brescia and Roma, Guardiola played in Qatar with Al-Ahli from Doha in the Qatar Stars League.
2005: Played for Catalonia Football Team
In 2005, Guardiola played for and advocated on behalf of the Catalonia football team. Between 1995 and 2005, he played seven friendly matches for Catalonia.
2005: Turns Down Offers from European Clubs
In 2005, Guardiola turned down offers from a number of European clubs, feeling his playing career was coming to a close.
2006: Barcelona League Title
Barcelona secured their first league title since 2006 in the 2008-09 season.
2006: Joins Dorados
In 2006, Juan Manuel Lillo recruited Guardiola to play for Mexican club Dorados. He played with Dorados for six months, but was limited to ten appearances due to injuries, before retiring.
2006: Praise for Possession-Based Football during 2006 World Cup
In 2006, during the World Cup, Guardiola's editorials for El Pais praised Luis Aragonés' Spanish side and Ricardo La Volpe's Mexican side, revealing his reverence for possession-based, attacking football.
June 2007: Appointed Manager of Barcelona B
On June 21, 2007, Guardiola was appointed manager of Barcelona B with Tito Vilanova as his assistant.
May 2008: Appointed Manager of Barcelona
In May 2008, Barcelona President Joan Laporta announced that Guardiola would be appointed manager of the senior Barcelona squad.
2008: Competitive Game as Manager
In 2008, Guardiola's first competitive game as manager was in the third qualifying round of the Champions League, in which Barcelona beat Wisła Kraków.
2008: Guardiola Takes Charge of Barcelona First Team
In 2008, after briefly managing Barcelona B and winning the Tercera División title, Guardiola took charge of the first team.
May 2009: Barcelona Wins Copa del Rey
On May 13, 2009, Barcelona won the 2008–09 Copa del Rey, beating Athletic Bilbao 4–1 in the 2009 Copa del Rey final.
September 2009: 50th Professional Victory
On September 25, 2009, Barcelona gave Guardiola his 50th professional victory, away against Málaga.
2009: Cleared of Doping Charges
In 2009, Guardiola was cleared of all charges related to his four-month ban for testing positive for nandrolone during his time in Italy.
January 2010: Longest Serving Manager
In January 2010, Guardiola became Barcelona's longest-serving Spanish manager, surpassing Josep Samitier's record.
February 2010: 100th Match for Barcelona
In February 2010, Guardiola managed his 100th match for Barcelona's first team, achieving a record of 71 wins, 19 draws, and 10 losses.
April 2010: First Manager to Beat Real Madrid Four Times in a Row
On April 10, 2010, Guardiola became the first manager in Barcelona's history to beat Real Madrid four times consecutively in El Clásico.
February 2011: One-Year Deal Extension
On February 8, 2011, Guardiola accepted Barcelona's offer for a one-year contract extension, committing to the club until June 2012.
January 2012: FIFA World Coach of the Year
On January 9, 2012, Guardiola was named FIFA World Coach of the Year. On his 41st birthday, he led his side to a 2–1 victory over arch-rivals Real Madrid in El Clásico, ensuring that he remained unbeaten against Real Madrid in regular time as a manager.
April 2012: Announcement of Departure from Barcelona
In April 2012, Barcelona was knocked out of the Champions League semi-final after a draw against Chelsea. On April 27, 2012, Guardiola announced he would step down as Barcelona's manager at the end of the 2011–12 season, citing tiredness.
2012: End of Barcelona Stint
In 2012, Guardiola ended his four-year stint with Barcelona, having achieved 14 honors, a club record.
January 2013: Third Place for FIFA World Coach of the Year
In January 2013, Guardiola came in third place for the 2012 FIFA World Coach of the Year, behind Vicente del Bosque and José Mourinho.
January 2013: Announcement as Bayern Munich Manager
On January 16, 2013, it was announced that Guardiola would become the manager of Bundesliga club Bayern Munich after the 2012–13 season.
June 2013: First Press Conference and Training Session at Bayern Munich
In June 2013, Guardiola addressed his first press conference at Bayern on June 24, speaking in German, and had his first training session on June 26.
December 2013: Third Club World Cup Win
In December 2013, Guardiola won his third Club World Cup after Bayern Munich beat Raja Casablanca in Morocco.
2013: Joins Bayern Munich
In 2013, Guardiola joined Bayern Munich and won the Bundesliga in each of his three seasons, including two domestic doubles.
March 2014: 23rd Bundesliga Title
On March 25, 2014, Guardiola led Bayern Munich to their 23rd Bundesliga title by defeating Hertha Berlin 3–1.
May 2014: Marriage to Cristina Serra
In May 2014, Guardiola married Cristina Serra, whom he had met when he was 18 years old.
2014: Critique of Tiki-taka Style in 2014
In 2014, Guardiola criticized the tiki-taka style, expressing his disdain for excessive passing without clear intention.
April 2015: Champions League Semi-Finals and German Cup Elimination
In April 2015, Bayern reached their fourth-straight Champions League semi-final, with Guardiola managing his 100th match as manager and Bayern defeating Porto 6-1. On April 28, 2015, Bayern was knocked out of the German Cup in a penalty shoot-out.
August 2015: Loss in the German Super Cup
In August 2015, Bayern Munich started the 2015–16 season by losing in a shoot-out to Wolfsburg in the German Super Cup.
October 2015: First Loss in all Competitions
On October 20, 2015, Bayern Munich's first loss in all competitions during the 2015–16 season came against Arsenal in the Champions League group stage.
December 2015: First Loss in the League
On December 5, 2015, Bayern Munich experienced their first loss in the league with a 3–1 scoreline to Borussia Mönchengladbach.
2015: Participation in Pro-Independence Coalition
In 2015, Guardiola confirmed his participation in the pro-independence coalition, Junts pel Sí, for the regional parliamentary election.
February 2016: Signed by Manchester City
On February 1, 2016, Manchester City announced that they had signed Guardiola to a three-year contract, beginning with the 2016–17 season.
May 2016: Champions League Semi-Final Loss
On May 3, 2016, Guardiola's Bayern Munich lost to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals, ending his final chance to win the title with the club. Guardiola's final match was on 21 May 2016, with Bayern defeating Borussia Dortmund in a shootout.
August 2016: First Victory in Premier League
On August 13, 2016, Guardiola secured victory in his first match of the Premier League season, as Manchester City defeated Sunderland 2–1.
2016: Joins Manchester City
In 2016, Guardiola left Bayern Munich for Manchester City.
2016: First Season Without Major Trophy Since 2016–17 Season
Manchester City finished the season without a major trophy for the first time since the 2016–17 season and marked Manchester City's worst finish in the league since the 2016–17 season.
January 2017: Biggest Managerial Defeat in Domestic Competition
On January 15, 2017, Manchester City lost to Everton 0–4, marking Guardiola's biggest-ever managerial defeat in a domestic competition.
2017: Chiellini Criticizes Guardiola's Philosophy
In 2017, Giorgio Chiellini criticized Guardiola's philosophy and the impact of possession-based playing styles on the defensive quality of Italian defenders, arguing that it has negatively impacted their ability to mark effectively.
2018: Domestic Treble with Manchester City
In 2018, Guardiola guided Manchester City to a domestic treble.
2018: Marco Frattino's Statement
In 2018, Marco Frattino stated that Pep Guardiola was one of the best midfielders in the world.
August 2019: Community Shield Victory and Premier League Yellow Card
In August 2019, Manchester City initiated their season with a penalty shoot-out victory against Liverpool in the Community Shield, securing the trophy for the second consecutive year. During the match, Pep Guardiola marked a unique event by becoming the first Premier League manager to receive a yellow card.
2019: Manchester City Wins Premier League Title
In 2019, Guardiola won one of four successive Premier League titles from 2019 to 2024 with Manchester City, marking a historic achievement.
2019: Community Shield Victory
In 2019, under Pep Guardiola, Manchester City secured the Community Shield, marking their first win in the competition since 2019 and the third time during his tenure.
August 2020: Champions League Quarter-final Loss to Lyon
In August 2020, after defeating Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16, Guardiola's Manchester City faced Lyon in the quarter-finals. City lost the match 1–3 and was eliminated at the quarter-final stage for the third season in a row.
November 2020: Guardiola Signs New Contract with Manchester City
On November 19, 2020, Pep Guardiola solidified his commitment to Manchester City by signing a new two-year contract, extending his tenure until the summer of 2023.
2020: First Champions League Final with Manchester City
In 2020, Guardiola guided Manchester City to their first Champions League final.
2020: Recognition as One of the Greatest Spanish Players
In 2020, Miguel Val of Marca considered Guardiola to be one of the greatest Spanish players of all time. Also in 2020, Lee Bushe of 90min.com included him in his list of "The Best Deep-Lying Playmakers of All Time."
January 2021: Guardiola Achieves 500th Managerial Win
On January 31, 2021, Guardiola celebrated his 500th game as a manager after Manchester City's 1-0 victory over Sheffield United. The team also achieved a record of nine wins in January, marking the most wins in a single month in the top four tiers of English football since 1888.
2021: Manchester City Signs Jack Grealish
In 2021, Manchester City broke the British transfer record by signing Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish for £100m.
2021: Premier League Title, EFL Cup Win and Champions League Final Loss
In 2021, Pep Guardiola won his third Premier League title with Manchester City. The team also won the EFL Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur. However, they lost the Champions League final to Chelsea, leading to criticism of Guardiola's team selection.
May 2022: Manchester City Wins Premier League Title
In May 2022, Manchester City secured the Premier League title with a 3–2 victory over Aston Villa, marking Guardiola's fourth title with the club.
November 2022: Guardiola Signs Contract Extension with Manchester City
In November 2022, Pep Guardiola signed a new two-year contract with Manchester City, committing to stay with the club until the summer of 2025.
2022: Experimentation with Formations at Manchester City
During the 2022–23 season, Guardiola experimented with several formations. Guardiola deployed centre-back John Stones in a hybrid defensive and creative role in midfield, which Jonathan Wilson of The Guardian likened to both the libero and wing-half roles in 2023.
2022: Champions League Title with Manchester City
In 2022, Guardiola guided Manchester City to their first Champions League title as part of his second continental treble.
May 2023: Cameo Appearance in Ted Lasso
In May 2023, Guardiola made a cameo appearance in Ted Lasso, offering advice to Ted Lasso (played by Jason Sudeikis) after Manchester City's defeat to AFC Richmond.
June 2023: Manchester City Wins FA Cup and Champions League
In June 2023, Manchester City won their second FA Cup under Guardiola and their first Champions League title, completing a continental treble.
August 2023: Guardiola Wins UEFA Super Cup
On August 16, 2023, Guardiola secured his fourth UEFA Super Cup title, becoming the first manager to win it with three different clubs, after Manchester City defeated Sevilla in a penalty shootout.
2023: WM Formation
During the 2022–23 season, Guardiola used a modern version of the 3–2–2–3 formation during the 2022–23 treble–winning season, which was likened to the past WM formation. He deployed centre-back John Stones in a hybrid defensive and creative role in midfield, which Jonathan Wilson of The Guardian likened to both the libero and wing-half roles in 2023.
May 2024: Man City Wins Fourth Straight Premier League Title, Loses FA Cup Final
In May 2024, Manchester City secured their fourth consecutive Premier League title by defeating West Ham United. However, they lost the FA Cup Final to Manchester United, ending their hopes of a consecutive domestic double.
November 2024: Guardiola Suffers Four Consecutive Losses and Signs Contract Extension
In November 2024, Guardiola experienced four consecutive losses for the first time in his managerial career after Manchester City's defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. Despite speculation about his departure, he signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until 2027. However, he then suffered his heaviest home defeat as Manchester City manager against Tottenham Hotspur.
2024: Manchester City Wins Fourth Successive Premier League Title
In 2024, Guardiola led Manchester City to their fourth successive Premier League title, marking the first time this has been achieved in English top flight history.
2024: Manchester City's Unbeaten Run Ends
In the 2024-2025 season, Manchester City had an unbeaten run which ended after a 1-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the EFL Cup. This loss initiated a tough phase for the club, with only one win in the subsequent thirteen matches across all competitions.
February 2025: Manchester City Eliminated from Champions League
In February 2025, Manchester City was eliminated from the 2024–25 Champions League after losing to Real Madrid, marking their first failure to reach the round of sixteen since the 2012–13 season. Guardiola criticized his own performance and suggested he would leave if he was the problem.
October 2025: Guardiola Secures 250th Premier League Victory
In October 2025, Guardiola achieved his 250th Premier League victory, surpassing Alex Ferguson's record.
January 2026: Guardiola Records 400th Win with Manchester City
In January 2026, Pep Guardiola recorded his 400th win with Manchester City, becoming the fastest manager in England to reach this milestone.
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