A decade of influence ends

The Premier League is without Pep Guardiola in its opening weekend for the first time in a decade. Across 10 seasons the 55-year-old won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups and a Champions League with Manchester City, leaving the Etihad in May after 593 matches in charge.

“To come to the country which created football and believe you have to change something would be a little bit presumptuous,” Guardiola said on his arrival in English football in 2016. “I’m not good enough to change everything. I trust a lot in myself. I am able to do the job but I don’t come here to think I can change the mentality or the culture of England.”

His vision did change the game. It spawned disciples including his successor Enzo Maresca and Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta, who beat him to the title last season. The influence filtered down from the elite to grassroots, altering the fundamentals of coaching at all levels.

What opponents remember

Neil Warnock recalled an unlikely friendship that began after a Cardiff City game. “Management is a lonely job, so we got together a few times over the years,” Warnock said. He took Guardiola to a Stockport County game and was asked to speak to City’s squad before training.

“Do you know this morning, I realised why you won eight promotions. We have data, computers, statisticians, nutritionists, analysts, staff for everything. Do you know what we haven’t got? Humour.” Warnock added: “It is the human element that Pep has, which is why he is the best manager I’ve ever come across.”

Rob Edwards faced Guardiola four times with Luton Town and later Wolves. In a 2-1 defeat he heard Guardiola tell the fourth official, “It’s alright, we won six titles with you doing this to us.” After a 6-2 win, Guardiola was animated on the sideline as Stefan Ortega played a through-ball like a No 10, and later praised Luton’s bravery: “These guys have balls — even I wouldn’t do that!”

Gareth Ainsworth drew 1-1 with City in the Carabao Cup with Wycombe. City won 6-1, but Guardiola made sure the players got shirts and invited the team in for drinks. Ainsworth recalled preparing a bottle of wine for Guardiola who opened his own instead. “They say don’t meet your heroes, but he didn’t disappoint,” Ainsworth said.

Chris Hughton, who met City on Brighton’s first Premier League day in 2017, said: “When you speak to him you are engulfed by the sense that this is a special person. There are zero distractions in your mind when he is talking to you about football.”

Karl Robinson said Guardiola knew his League Two players by name. At Oxford in 2019 he noted a substitute’s 30-yard first-time shot and had prepared his team on it. After Salford’s 2-0 defeat at the Etihad, Robinson recalled Guardiola bringing on Marc Guehi, Antoine Semenyo and Rodri.

“I just looked at him and said ‘What the f*** are you doing?’. He just laughed,” Robinson said. He also recalled Guardiola’s respect for old Manchester United players and for staff at all levels.

Lee Johnson, after being sacked by Fleetwood Town, was spotted by Guardiola at a press conference. “We spoke for maybe 10 minutes and he was very inspiring,” Johnson said. “He gave me time when no one else did.”

John Askey drew 1-1 with City at Port Vale in the FA Cup in 2020. Guardiola fielded a strong side, invited the whole team in for signed shirts and gave Askey a bottle of Rioja. “He was obsessed” by Askey’s father Colin playing in the 1954 FA Cup semi-final, Askey recalled.

Paul Heckingbottom lost an FA Cup semi-final 3-0 to Riyad Mahrez’s hat-trick in 2023 but was told “See you in the Prem”. In pre-season he was asked by Guardiola to play City’s first team instead of the U21s to work against a 3-5-2. Guardiola referenced Tommy Doyle and James McAtee’s loans with Heckingbottom.

Darren Moore faced Guardiola at Huddersfield Town and later visited training. Guardiola raved about Morgan Rogers and was protective about access to sessions. “The man is a maverick but he has a wonderful human touch,” Moore said.

Vitor Pereira, who first faced Guardiola in the 2011 Super Cup with Porto and later at the Etihad with Nottingham Forest, called him “the Da Vinci of football” and said football needs him back as soon as possible.