Pep Guardiola Celebrates 1,000th Match as Manager on Sunday

MANCHESTER, England — Pep Guardiola is set to reach a significant milestone in his career as a manager when he takes charge of his 1,000th match this Sunday. The Manchester City boss, known for his tactical brilliance, has led the team to six titles and numerous accolades since he joined in 2016.

Sir Alex Ferguson, the legendary former manager, congratulated Guardiola on this achievement. Speaking on behalf of the League Managers Association, Ferguson expressed, “Pep! I am absolutely delighted to welcome you to join the prestigious LMA Hall of Fame 1,000 Club. Your deep love and passion for the game has always been so evident.”

Guardiola began his managerial career with Barcelona B before advancing to the first team, then moving to Bayern Munich in 2013. His success has continued at City, where he has won an impressive 715 of his first 999 matches. He acknowledged the significance of reaching 1,000 games, saying, “I am so proud to be reaching 1,000 games as a manager which has always been a special ambition for me.”

Richard Bevan, chief executive of the League Managers Association, praised Guardiola’s dedication. He called his achievements in Spain, Germany, and England “unprecedented.”

Guardiola is the 119th manager to reach this milestone and holds a remarkable win rate of over 70%. This Sunday, he will be leading his team against Liverpool, a crucial match that could impact the Premier League standings.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has also spoken about Guardiola’s influence on his career, stating, “Since I came to City he’s been helping me with movements to score goals. It’s Pep Guardiola — he’s a genius. So far, it’s been a good journey!”

As Guardiola approaches this landmark, he reflects on his journey from managing Barcelona B to leading one of the most successful clubs in football.