Manchester City are closing in on yet another Premier League and FA Cup double with just an underperforming Manchester United standing in their way.
After winning an incredible treble last season, Pep Guardiola’s men have carried on where they left off this campaign as they confirmed their Premier League triumph after a comfortable win over West Ham on the final day of the season.
With another title in the bag for Guardiola, his sixth league victory since moving to England back in 2016, the question has turned to where does the Spaniard rank among the best managers ever seen in football.
There is no doubt that since moving to the Etihad Stadium eight years ago, his football has transformed England and teams in the National League or EFL League Two are trying to follow his style of play.
Lineker on Guardiola
Speaking on the BBC, Gary Lineker has attempted to settle the debate of who is the better manager out of Guardiola and former Aberdeen and Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
During his 26-year spell at Old Trafford, Ferguson won 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies and multiple domestic cups. However, in Guardiola’s 16-year managerial career, he has won two Champions League titles, 12 league titles across three teams and has won two trebles, compared to Ferguson’s one.
“People are copying the inverted fullbacks which he invented in Germany,” Lineker said. “He’s so innovative, for me he is number one, not just now but I think he’s the best of all time.
“I’d have him over Fergie (Sir Alex Ferguson). Fergie was hard, he was tough and brilliant and his record was unbelievably good but did he reinvent the game in a tactical sense, I don’t think so.”
The debate will continue to rage as Guardiola continues to pick up league titles in England but until the Spaniard can rebuild a squad like Ferguson did, time and time again, it is hard to displace the Scotsman as the greatest manager of all time.
Guardiola on Ferguson
It seems that the Spaniard himself is honoured to be in the same bracket of managers as the former United boss when he spoke about Ferguson following City’s treble triumph back in June of 2023.
“I can’t wait to be on the bus with the three trophies. It’s an honour for me to be like Sir Alex Ferguson — he sent me a message this morning,” he told GOAL.
Winning two trebles during his career is an incredible achievement from Guardiola but the Spaniard may have some way to go before he can overtake Ferguson’s legacy.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
