Pep Guardiola
Regarded as one of the greatest managers football has ever produced, it's fair to say that Pep Guardiola has an exceptional understanding of the beautiful game. He enjoyed a respectable playing career and spent 11 years with Barcelona, but it was only after retiring from the pitch and moving into management that he truly found his calling.
The ex-Manchester City boss has played a major role in transforming the way football is approached, with his influence now visible across the sport. He devised systems that allowed teams to play in ways rarely seen before, and so many clubs have attempted to copy his methods that some believe his impact has ultimately been detrimental to football.
Guardiola has won virtually every major honour available to him during his career. He has lifted trophies with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City, while also helping develop numerous world-class players.
Even if he walked away from the game completely, his achievements already place him among the greatest managers of all time. So, when someone of Guardiola's stature singles out a player for special praise, it carries plenty of weight. He once singled out an England star and called him one of the finest midfielders he had ever watched.
Guardiola Raved About Michael Carrick
Manchester United assistant coach Michael Carrick before facing Southampton.
During his spells in charge of Barcelona, Bayern and City, Guardiola faced and managed some of the finest players football has to offer. The 55-year-old worked with stars including Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski and Kevin De Bruyne, while also coming up against the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Wayne Rooney and Neymar.
With that level of experience, Guardiola is well placed to recognise quality, and he once described Michael Carrick as one of the best midfielders he had 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 is remarkable praise from a manager with Guardiola's reputation. Carrick was certainly worthy of it, too. The former midfielder was often overlooked during his playing days, despite being a hugely important part of United's success during the late 2000s and early 2010s. He provided the balance and control in the centre of the pitch for Manchester United, and it's difficult to imagine the club enjoying quite the same level of success without him.
Carrick made 464 appearances for the Red Devils across 12 years and collected 18 trophies during his time at the club. Although he does not enjoy the same level of recognition as players such as Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes, he remains one of the most underrated players in Premier League history. Given his influence and quality, it's easy to understand why Guardiola held him in such high regard.
All statistics are courtesy of Transfermarkt and accurate as of 11-09-26.