Thank You, Pep
10 seasons. 593 games. Over 1,600 goals scored. 20 trophies won. Six Premier League titles. Five EFL Cups. Three FA Cups. Three FA Community Shields. A UEFA Champions League, a UEFA Super Cup, and the coveted FIFA Club World Cup.
These incredible achievements define the incredible career of Pep Guardiola, who managed his final game for Manchester City on Sunday, May 24. But for many fans, including myself, Pep Guardiola was more than just a manager who won trophies. He was someone who changed soccer forever.
Pep’s journey began long before Manchester City. Born in Santpedor, he grew up loving the game and eventually joined FC Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy. As a player, he was intelligent, calm, and technically gifted. Playing under the legendary Johan Cruyff helped shape the football philosophy that would later make Pep one of the greatest managers the sport has ever seen.
After retiring as a player, Pep quickly rose through the coaching ranks. He started with Barcelona B before taking over Barcelona’s first team in 2008. Almost immediately, soccer changed. His teams played with a style that felt beautiful and impossible to stop. With players like Lionel Messi, Xavi, and Andrés Iniesta, Pep built one of the greatest teams the game has ever seen. After successful years with FC Bayern Munich, he eventually arrived at Manchester City in 2016, where he would create another soccer dynasty.
For me, Pep Guardiola has meant so much ever since 2021, when I first fell in love with soccer. Watching Manchester City was the reason I fell in love with the sport in the first place. The fans showed so much passion for the entire team, including Pep himself. He was known as a genius, someone who could make incredible things happen.
He signed world-class players, but it was more than that. Tactically and technically, he was unbelievable. His style of play was unlike anything I had ever seen before. The passing, the movement, the energy, the intensity—every match felt exciting. Watching City under Pep made soccer feel amazing.
That is why I fell in love with the sport: because of him. His energy, his passion for the game, his love for the team, the fans, and everyone around him made soccer feel special to me. He cared deeply about every detail and every moment. You could see how much the game meant to him every single time he stood on the sideline.
Pep Guardiola did not just build a winning team at Manchester City. He built memories for millions of fans around the world. He inspired young players, changed the way soccer is played, and created an era that many fans will never forget.
For many people, Pep Guardiola will always be remembered as one of the greatest managers in soccer history. But for me, he will always be the reason I fell in love with this incredible sport.
Thank you, Pep, for an incredible 10 seasons!