Josep Guardiola

Josep "Pep" Guardiola Sala is a Spanish professional football manager and former player, who is the current manager of Premier League club Manchester City. Known for his exceptional strategic acumen, Guardiola is often regarded as one of the greatest football managers. He holds an impressive record for the most consecutive league games won in La Liga, the Bundesliga, and the Premier League.

As a player, Guardiola was a distinguished defensive midfielder, spending the majority of his career with FC Barcelona, but also played for Brescia, Roma, Al-Ahli, and Dorados de Sinaloa. During his time with FC Barcelona, he was an integral part of Johan Cruyff's "dream team," securing the club's first European Cup and securing four successive Spanish league titles from 1991 to 1994.

Transitioning from playing to management, Guardiola took over as the coach of Barcelona in 2008, succeeding Frank Rijkaard. His first season at the helm was historical, as he guided the team to win the treble: La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League, becoming the youngest manager to achieve this feat in the Champions League. His leadership saw Barcelona achieve a record-setting six trophies in six competitions the following season. In 2011, his successes earned him the FIFA World Coach of the Year and the Catalan Parliament's Gold Medal, the legislature's highest honor. After a successful tenure at Barcelona, Guardiola led FC Bayern Munich from the 2013-2014 season, securing three Bundesliga titles and additional honors including the DFB-Pokal, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup. He joined Manchester City in 2016, quickly transforming them into a dominant force in English football. Under his guidance, Manchester City achieved two consecutive Premier League titles, three EFL Cups, and an FA Cup, culminating in a historic domestic treble in English men's football. His tactical prowess led to another Premier League victory in the 2020/21 season, with his team again reaching the UEFA Champions League final.