Pep Guardiola has witnessed many of the game’s greatest talents across the last three decades, both as a player and from the dugout. He has managed Lionel Messi, gone head-to-head with Cristiano Ronaldo, and even encountered the legendary Diego Maradona.
To be described as one of the best players Guardiola has ever seen is praise of the highest order. That distinction was given to one of England’s most iconic footballers back in 2014.
At the time, the current Manchester City manager was leading German powerhouse Bayern Munich. As he prepared his side for a blockbuster Champions League showdown with Manchester United, Guardiola singled out one of the Red Devils’ standout performers for special recognition.
Guardiola: England and Man United Icon was one of the Greats
pep guardiola manchester city
There were lingering injury concerns over Wayne Rooney as David Moyes readied his team for the European tie. Guardiola, however, had no doubt the England star would feature.
“Rooney will play, 100 per cent. He will play — I’ll wager you a big glass of beer,” he insisted.
That confidence underlined just how seriously Guardiola viewed the threat. The Bayern boss proceeded to deliver one of the highest compliments imaginable to the former Everton prodigy.
The then-Bayern boss said.
"A big player, one of the best I have seen in my career."
Considering the extraordinary calibre of players Guardiola has encountered throughout his career, such admiration carries real weight. Rooney remains Manchester United’s all-time leading scorer, with 253 goals to his name. During that period, he was also closing in on England’s scoring record — a mark that has since been overtaken by Harry Kane.
Rooney Asked to Pick Between Guardiola & Sir Alex Ferguson
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and Wayne Rooney
Before Guardiola made his move to English football, there was little debate over the Premier League’s greatest-ever manager. Sir Alex Ferguson secured a remarkable 13 league titles with Manchester United before stepping down in 2013.
Since Manchester City’s rise to dominance across the city, comparisons between Guardiola and the legendary Scot have become commonplace. When asked by to pick between the two, Rooney weighed in on the debate.
"I think of course there are going to be arguments as to who is better, but I think people tend to just look at what Sir Alex did at Manchester United, and what he did at Aberdeen was incredible."
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Ultimately siding with his former manager, the ex-striker-turned-pundit pointed to Ferguson’s achievements with Aberdeen as the decisive factor — highlighting that triumph as the edge over Guardiola, who has consistently taken charge of Europe’s elite clubs. Rooney explained his reasoning further:
"And you'd ask the question, could Guardiola do that at a team like Aberdeen? There's questions, there's debate, I think Guardiola for his era is of course the best, and he's changed the way football is played worldwide ... but yeah, for me, Sir Alex, what he achieved in the game is incredible."