This Sunday, Pep Guardiola is poised to celebrate a monumental milestone in his illustrious managerial career as he takes charge of his 1000th match. The Premier League clash against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium will mark this historic occasion.
Guardiola's journey to this landmark began on September 2, 2007, in a Spanish fourth-tier game against Premia. Now, 18 years later, he stands as one of the most celebrated managers in football history. His career boasts an impressive 715 wins out of 999 games, showcasing a remarkable win rate of 71.57%.
Throughout his career, Guardiola has managed at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City. With these clubs, he has secured an astonishing 40 major trophies, averaging one trophy every 25 matches. His trophy haul includes three Champions League titles, two with Barcelona (2009, 2011) and one with Manchester City (2023).
Guardiola expressed his thoughts on reaching this milestone, stating, "To reach 1,000 games in management is something very special for me... When I started managing Barcelona B all those years ago, I never thought for one second about reaching 1,000 games". He further acknowledged the support he has received from the clubs he has worked with, stating, "I have been so fortunate in my career to work for three amazing clubs... At Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, I have had full support".
Bernardo Silva, Manchester City's captain, noted Guardiola's tactical brilliance and dedication to the sport. "In terms of offensive concepts, he takes you to another level," Silva said. "He's different from other managers... then he's obsessed with football, for good or bad he spends all his days thinking about what he can do to improve".
To commemorate Guardiola's 1000th game, he is set to be inducted into the League Managers' Association 1000 club, joining the ranks of legendary figures such as Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Matt Busby and Brian Clough.
Adding another layer to the significance of the occasion, Guardiola's milestone match pits his Manchester City side against Liverpool, a team whose rivalry has defined a significant portion of his time in English football. This weekend's match is crucial, as it is second vs third in the Premier League. City has not defeated Liverpool since April 2023, when they won 4-1 at home.
