They say Sir Alex Fergusen (SAF) is the greatest club football manager the world has ever seen. His success and domination are unparallel to anybody during his heydays. Manchester United won the treble and more than 10 league titles in his quarter of a century-long stay at the wheel. Throughout the years, he faced stiff competition from Arsene Wenger against whom he had a positive record. Jose Mourinho troubled him consistently but he was able to beat him too.
If there’s one man who can replace him as the greatest club football manager, then it has to be Pep Guardiola. Pep has beaten SAF twice in UCL finals. Pep is a manager who has had immense success wherever he went. He won the sextuple in Barcelona, picked up trophies in Bayern Munich, and now in Manchester City has managed to build a remarkably well-oiled squad.
Pep’s style of play has transformed over the years. That’s one thing where his earliest arch rival Jose Mourinho failed to do so. Guardiola’s Man City team has an exciting style of play. It’s not just possession-based Tiki-taka. City’s build-up play and counter-attacks, both are a treat to watch. Even if you are a big Pep hater, you would still love to see his Man City team play every weekend. They play as if they are performing routine drills on the training ground. It’s appreciable how he has made his team play with a sheer amount of consistency for a very long time. Many managers like Graham Potter have taken a leaf out of his books and we can see Brighton and Hove Albion play with flair.
Yes, it is true that he has the backing of an owner who’s willing to spend billions to buy the player he likes. It’s extraordinary that City have been scoring goals for fun even if they lack a proper no.9. Man City are equally impressive defensively. Pep has groomed some of his players such that they can play in any relevant position. For example, Joao Cancelo was an RB when he was in Juve. Pep has transformed him into a player who can play RB, RWB, LB, LWB, inverted full-back, midfielder, winger, and even no.9!! The way Pep developed and transitioned the young gem, Phil Foden, into a top-level performer is just commendable.
In the current years, it’s the German managers that have been doing great. Pep’s two biggest rivals are Germans, Klopp and Tuchel. Against them, Pep has a very balanced record and that’s the only thing that is giving him some kind of competition. The last three UCLs were won by German managers. Pep Guardiola hasn’t won the UCL with City. He came close to winning it last season only to be thwarted by Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea. The way City are playing, it's just a matter of time until they win the UCL. He’s still only 51 and even he manages for 10 more years, he will surely get regarded as the greatest club football manager of all time.
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