Pep Guardiola to follow Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Matt Busby with special accolade after Liverpool clash | OneFootball

The League Managers’ Association will recognise Pep Guardiola’s 18-year career in coaching to date after this weekend’s meeting with Liverpool, it has been detailed.

As Guardiola prepares to face one of his fiercest rivals in English football, his latest milestone will serve as a reminder of just how far his managerial journey has come. The Catalan tactician, who first stepped into the dugout with Barcelona B back in 2007, has since redefined modern football across three of Europe’s most dominant clubs.

The 54-year-old’s longevity and success at the Etihad Stadium have also ensured he sits alongside some of the most decorated managers in English football history. Having guided City to a historic Treble in 2023 and multiple Premier League titles since 2018, Guardiola’s impact has mirrored that of legends such as Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger.

For Guardiola, the Liverpool fixture represents more than just another chapter in the Premier League rivalry with the Merseyside giants as it will officially mark the 1000th match of his coaching career.

And as detailed by MailSport’s Jack Gaughan, Pep Guardiola is set to be inducted into the League Managers’ Association 1000 club when he accomplishes his 1000th match in coaching against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.

The meeting with the Anfield club this weekend will mark a sensational landmark in Guardiola’s 18-year coaching career spanning across four teams in Barcelona B, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City.

Among the 999 matches managed by Pep Guardiola thus far, the Catalan coach has won a staggering 37 major trophies as well as Community Shield honours with his four clubs, and the LMA will recognise his remarkable run in the game by adding him to their Hall of Fame.

MailSport’s report highlights that Pep Guardiola is to become only the 39th post-war manager to receive the accolade, following in the footsteps of the likes of Brian Clough, Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Matt Busby.

Speaking with Manchester City’s official club website on the upcoming achievement, Guardiola said, “To reach 1,000 games in management is something very special for me. 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.” 

As Manchester City continue to evolve under a refreshed leadership structure – including Bernardo Silva’s appointment as captain and multiple backroom staff changes – Pep Guardiola’s latest milestone is both a personal and institutional reminder of the club’s stability under his guidance.

With his contract running until the summer of 2027, Pep Guardiola has hinted in recent interviews that he could yet extend his stay, stating he still feels “comfortable” and “energised” by the current project.

This weekend’s induction may only reinforce that sentiment, as recognition from the LMA brings him shoulder-to-shoulder with the greats of British football management.

For Manchester City, Guardiola’s 1000th game is more than a statistic but also a celebration of sustained excellence and a signal that the journey, even after almost two decades in management, may still have more chapters to come.