Considered one of the greatest managers in the history of football, it's safe to say that Pep Guardiola knows a thing or two about the beautiful game. He had a very impressive career on the pitch and shone for Barcelona for 11 years, but it wasn't until he hung his boots up for good and tried his hand at management that he discovered his true calling.
The Manchester City coach is responsible for revolutionising how football is played and his influence can be felt throughout the sport. He set teams up to play in a manner in which no one else had ever done before and so many sides have tried to emulate his approach that some think it's actually hurt football.
Guardiola has won everything he's possibly had the chance to win in football. He's collected trophies with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and now City. He's developed world-class players and if he stepped away from the sport today, he'd still be one of the best managers ever. Yeah, it's safe to say he knows what he's talking about when it comes to football. That's why being singled out for praise by Guardiola can mean so much. He once raved about one England star and described him as one of the best midfielders he'd ever seen.
Every trophy Pep Guardiola has won in his managerial career including the Premier League and Champions League Related
Every Trophy Pep Guardiola Has Won
The Manchester City boss is one of the most decorated managers in football history.
Guardiola Raved About Michael Carrick
He described him as one of the best midfielders he'd ever seen
Over the course of his time managing Barcelona, Bayern and City, Guardiola came up against some of the best footballers in the world and he coached some of the best footballers in the world. The 54-year-old got to coach the likes of Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski and Kevin De Bruyne. He's faced stars such as Kylian Mbappe, Wayne Rooney and Neymar. He recognises talent and he once labelled Michael Carrick as one of the best midfielders he'd ever seen.
As quoted by the Mirror, Guardiola said:
"I am a big fan of Michael Carrick. He is one of the best holding midfielders I’ve ever seen in my life by far. He’s the level of Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets in Barcelona and Munich."
That's incredibly high praise from someone of Guardiola's calibre. Carrick deserved it all, though. The former midfielder was vastly underrated during his career, but he was essential to United's success throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s. He was the engine in the middle of the park for Manchester United and without him, it's hard to imagine they'd have been quite as successful.
He played 464 times for the Red Devils over the course of 12 years and won 18 trophies with the side for his troubles. He's not remembered as fondly as the likes of Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes, but he is one of the most underrated players in Premier League history and it's easy to see why Guardiola was such a fan of his.
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt and accurate as of 29/06/2025