Pep Guardiola has been in charge of Manchester City for a decade and his reign has included many memorable moments
Pep Guardiola with the Champions League trophy
Pep Guardiola has overseen a period of immense success at Manchester City(Image: Getty)
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It has been a decade since Pep Guardiola was announced as Manchester City manager. The Catalan tactician agreed a deal with the club ahead of the 2016/17 season and joined the Premier League amid considerable scrutiny.
But nearly 10 years on, he's silenced nearly - if not all of - his critics. To mark Pep Guardiola's decade in charge, All Out Football spoke with some of those who have witnessed and chronicled his era from start to finish. Here's what we discovered....
Early adaptation was crucial to Pep's achievements
Beyond all the trophies, it's easy to overlook the obstacles that Guardiola has faced during his tenure. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss' inaugural campaign proved somewhat disastrous, marking the first occasion in his managerial career he failed to secure any silverware.
Simon Bajkowski, chief Manchester City writer for the Manchester Evening News, emphasised how rapidly Guardiola adjusted. He said: "A lot of people who wanted to see Guardiola fail in English football were absolutely delighted [after the first season]. He was swimming against the tide really. He'd made a lot of big decisions, like Claudio Bravo for Joe Hart."
Adapt he did. City weren't merely Premier League champions in his second year but achieved it whilst shattering the all-time points record.
Pep Guardiola is weird... in a good way
You don't remain at a club for so long, claiming all the honours Guardiola has done, without being completely dedicated to your profession. That's something Amos Murphy, journalist and co-founder of The City Ramble explained.
Speaking in the documentary, he said: "I say this in the highest esteem to a man who I hold as dear to me as a family member, but he is a weirdo in the sense he is completely absorbed by everything football. People around him say, he just doesn't stop. He can't stop."
Pep Guardiola with the Premier League trophy
Pep Guardiola's arrival at Manchester City was announced 10 years ago(Image: Getty)
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Broadcaster and City supporter, Ian Cheeseman, added: "There's something different about Pep, it's a love of the game, not just a love of winning."
On the psychological impact, Simon said: "You have to be a certain personality to cope with that. Some players might be able to do it for five or 10 years, some players just one or two."
Jurgen Klopp made Pep Guardiola and Man City better
When Guardiola does ultimately depart English football, among the things he'll be best remembered for are the epic clashes with Jurgen Klopp. His Liverpool side proved a constant challenge on numerous occasions, but did Klopp actually elevate Guardiola's game?
City supporter Louisa Wilshaw thinks so, saying: "He did say that Klopp pushed him, made him better, made him a better manager. Made him think what he needed to do next, how he needed to improve the team."
Reflecting on the dramatic 2018/19 title race, where Liverpool's total of 97 points fell short of securing the league title, Amos said: "It was the most emotionally taxing thing I'd ever been a part of.
"That 18/19 season, it was basically from September, if you drop points your chance of winning the league decreases by five per cent. You look at the points tally at the end, it turned out like that... it was the best heavyweight battle football has ever seen."
Matching Man Utd's greatest triumph
When rivals Manchester United secured the Treble in 1999, City were competing in the third tier of English football. However, in 2023, Guardiola delivered the Treble to the blue half of Manchester - something that marked a culmination for one devoted supporter.
Pep Guardiola celebrates Manchester City winning the treble
Guardiola led Manchester City to a treble-winning season in 2023(Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
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Looking back on the 2023 success, content creator Big Steve said: "When the final whistle went, it just felt like everything had gone full circle and I'd completed what I needed to complete. From starting off as a boy at Maine Road, watching them bounce around the divisions, to watching them lift the Champions League as part of the Treble was unbelievable."
Things became even more remarkable for Steve, who ended up among the City squad's celebrations. He added: "[After the parade] things took a turn, I ended up being invited into the players' party. I was standing there with Pep, Jack Grealish was having a few beers, Ederson had no top on, Erling Haaland was walking around in pyjamas. It was an unbelievable night."
Guardiola's legacy
When Guardiola finally leaves City, it will be time to fully assess the 55-year-old's achievements. However, those associated with the club already regard him as the greatest ever.
Simon commented: "History and the chance to make it is something that has really driven Pep and this team over the last 10 years. But to win four in a row, first English team to do that, I'm not sure if anyone will ever do that again."
On that accomplishment, Louisa chimed in: "I think that's awesome and that's what warrants him as the greatest of all time."
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