Guardiola to hit 1000 games in management against Liverpool | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola will take charge of the 1000th match of his spectacular managerial career in this Sunday’s Premier League clash with Liverpool.

The outstanding manager of the modern era and one of the greatest of all-time, Guardiola now joins an exclusive club of coaches to oversee a senior side 1000 times.

Winning 715 of his 999 games so far, Guardiola has formed not only a reputation as a serial winner but also a manager who demands beautiful, entertaining football from his team.

“To reach 1,000 games in management is something very special for me,” he said.

“When I started managing Barcelona B all those years ago, I never thought for one second about reaching 1,000 games. You just want to do a good job, play football the right way and see what happens.

“I have been so fortunate in my career to work for three amazing clubs. At Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, I have had full support. It means I have been able to work without distraction and be the best manager I can be.

“I am very, very proud of my career. The trophies I have won… honestly, I never imagined I would win so often, but it has been beautiful. I would not change a single moment.

“There are too many people to name individually, but I want to thank everyone I have worked with in the last 18 years. And I also want to thank my family, who support me unconditionally in everything I do.”

He has lifted an astonishing 40 major trophies in his coaching career, averaging at one piece of silverware every 25 matches.

That has included 18 honours in 549 games to date with Manchester City, including six Premier League titles.

Four of those came in succession, marking the first time in English football history that the top-flight had been won by the same club four years in a row.

The first of the six titles saw City claim 100 Premier League points, a tally that still stands as a record.

Guardiola has also led City to uncharted territory internationally, winning the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup for the first time in our history.

In terms of domestic cups, we’ve won two FA Cups, four League Cups and three Community Shields under his guidance.

2022/23 saw City claim the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, marking us out as one of just nine clubs to win the European Treble.

Guardiola’s reputation as one of the best managers of all-time was already affirmed before his arrival in Manchester in 2016, owing to spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

After a season with Barcelona B in 2007/08, he took the main job at the Camp Nou.

There he led them to 14 successes in four seasons including three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues.

179 wins came in 247 matches in charge of the first team, after 28 wins in 42 outings for Barcelona B.

Alongside the sheer amount of success, Guardiola also attracted attention from around the globe for his stunning style of football.

After a year out, he took over at Bayern Munich where he lifted a further seven honours in three seasons after winning 121 games in 161 matches.

Now in his 10th season at City, Guardiola will mark his 1000th match in the dugout in this weekend’s clash with Liverpool.

And how fitting a match, given Liverpool’s challenge has been so central to Guardiola’s time in English football.

Congratulations to Pep Guardiola on this latest milestone in an exceptional career.