Pep Guardiola has squared off with some of the best managers to grace the sport but he once named three who he felt made him improve. The Spaniard is the benchmark of football management, achieving record-breaking success in England, Germany and Spain.
The Manchester City boss became the first coach in history to win two continental trebles when he led the Cityzens to the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in 2023. He achieved said feat while in charge of Barcelona, and although he's now spent longer at the Etihad, many feel his Camp Nou reign is unrivalled.
Some argue that Guardiola faced the toughest opponents of his career during his time in the Premier League. He seemed to suggest that was the case.
Guardiola: Three Managerial Rivals Made Me Better
One derailed Man City's Premier League dominance
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Guardiola has spent nine years in charge of City and he is undoubtedly the most important figure in the club's history. Without him, the Sky Blues don't have a Champions League trophy in their trophy cabinet, nor can they lay claim to being the only club to win four titles in a row.
The 54-year-old constantly pointed out how difficult an achievement that was when his troops experienced a surprise nosedive in the 2024-25 campaign. They had marched to league glory in each of the past four seasons but shockingly slipped to third.
Arne Slot got his hands on a winner's medal in his debut season at Liverpool, and many will be intrigued to see how Guardiola reacts to losing his crown. It was Jurgen Klopp, Slot's predecessor, who'd been the Spanish tactician's closest rival over the years.
Klopp was named among the managerial trio whom the City boss claimed have helped him. He said (via HaytersTV):
"My contenders as a manager? Jurgen Klopp made me a better manager"
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Klopp went toe-to-toe with Guardiola during the majority of a nine-year reign at Liverpool and constantly pushed the City manager close in title races. While the Spaniard secured six titles at the Etihad, the German was a nuisance, bringing the title to Anfield in 2020 and finishing 18 points clear.
The pair hold huge respect for one another from their time spent in opposing dugouts and Guardiola joked that he'd "sleep better" after Klopp announced he was calling time on his reign in 2024.
Pep Guardiola's Man City vs Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool (Premier League)
Games:
Guardiola Wins:
Klopp Wins:
Draws:
Goals Scored:
Another iconic former Premier League coach, Guardiola, knows all too well is Jose Mourinho, but the height of their managerial rivalry came in Spain. The pair were in charge of Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively, and their tenures coincided with one of the most heated periods in the El Clasico rivalry.
"Jose Mourinho made me a better manager."
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While Guardiola praised Mourinho on this occasion, they definitely didn't see eye-to-eye in La Liga but their battles also extended to English football. The Portuguese took over Manchester United and they squared off in the Manchester derby.
Their footballing philosophies were in huge contrast, with Guardiola focusing on possession-based play while Mourinho emphasized defensive solidity. It always made for compelling viewing when they were standing on the touchline ordering their players about.
|Pep Guardiola vs Jose Mourinho (All Competitions)|
|Games:|25|
|Guardiola Wins:|12|
|Mourinho Wins:|7|
|Draws:|6|
|Goals Scored:|45-33|
|---|
Guardiola has influenced several high-profile managers, including Mikel Arteta who spent time as his assistant at City before taking over at Arsenal in December 2019. There had been suggestions that his compatriot was the man the Cityzens eventually wanted to succeed him at the Etihad.
"Mikel Arteta now is making me a better manager."
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Arteta's time at the Emirates has impressed many because of his success in propelling the Gunners back into title contention. The only problem for the former Spanish midfielder is that he's come up against Guardiola's City, falling short every time the two English heavyweights have battled for league glory.
|Pep Guardiola's Man City vs Mikel Arteta's Arsenal (Premier League)|
|Games:|10|
|Guardiola Wins:|6|
|Arteta Wins:|2|
|Draws:|2|
|Goals Scored:|20-15|
|---|
All statistics courtesy ofTransfermarkt- correct as of 06/08/2025