Pep Guardiola coaching tree – the veteran Spanish manager’s students ranked:
1. Mikel Arteta
The current Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta played a crucial role at Man City when he was a part of Pep Guardiola’s backroom staff at the Premier League club. Arteta must have learned all sorts of tactics, strategies, formation tweaks, and especially the champions mentality that Pep was able to engrave among the City players since the early days of his stint in England.
Arteta moved to London after being appointed as the Gunners’ manager during the mid-season period of 2019-2020. However, after initially going through a tough period during the start of his tenure at the North London club, the former player was able to slowly but gradually build a team that emerged as one of the closest challengers to Man City for the title in the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 Premier League seasons, respectively.
2. Xabi Alonso
After his stint in club football with several top clubs like Liverpool and Real Madrid, Xabi Alonso started playing for German giants Bayer Munich under Pep Guardiola’s management in the year 2014. The midfielder proved his metal in the middle of the park and emerged as an influential player for Pep at Bayern.
Alonso retired from football in the year 2017. Pep Guardiola had already left Bayern Munich by that time. Xabi Alonso had the opportunity to work with the Los Blancos youth academy. He then managed the Spanish club Real Sociedad’s B side. The 42-year-old is currently the manager of Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen and has led them to the 2023-2024 German top-flight title after a gap of over 30 years without a major trophy.
Also Read: Jose Mourinho Recognizes Xabi Alonso’s Potential as a Manager
3. Xavi (Xavier Hernández)
Xavi emerged as one of the best midfielders at FC Barcelona under Pep Guardiola. He was even raked as someone who could take the managerial throne at Barça after getting done with his playing career. He did go on to become the Spanish club’s manager in November 2021.
The Spaniard’s time in Catalonia has come to an end after the 2023-2024 top-flight campaign. His tenure with Barcelona was marked with lots of ups and downs. But like he was under Guardiola, a fighter, Xavi never backed down from the challenges. Under his reign, Barça managed to win the 2022-2023 La Liga title and the Supercopa de España.
4. Erik ten Hag
The current Man United manager Erik ten Hag reportedly became the German club Bayer Munich’s B side coach in the year 2013. It was the same period when Pep Guardiola moved to Germany to become Bayern Munich’s manager. The Dutch manager slowly grew through the ranks and was appointed Eredivisie side Ajax’s manager in the year 2017.
Erik ten Hag managed to win the Dutch top-flight title of Eredivisie three times in his tenure of five years at the club. Ten Hag revealed the influence of Pep Guardiola on his managerial career. “I learned a lot from Guardiola”, the Dutchman stated in one of his interviews. It is a remarkable thing to know that the 54-year-old manager helped the Red Devils lift the 2023-2024 FA Cup title by tactically outclassing Guardiola in a crucial final.
5. Enzo Maresca
Enzo Maresca led Man City’s Developmental squad to the Premier League 2 title under his coaching in the 2020-2021 season. His achievement earned him a job as Parma’s manager. However, things didn’t quite work out for him with the Italian club as he faced a sacking. Maresca then worked under Pep Guardiola as his assistant during a highly successful 2022-2023 campaign for the English club.
The Italian was then chosen to be the next Leicester City head coach in the EFL Championship. Enzo Maresca passed the stern test with flying colors as he led the Foxes back to the Premier League. After his successful campaign with Leicester Maresca has now been appointed as Chelsea manager. He constitutes one of the major parts of Pep Guardiola’s coaching tree.
Also Read: Chelsea’s Pursuit of Enzo Maresca Comes to Fruition, But Doubts Over His Capabilities Lingers
6. Luis Enrique
Luis Enrique was one of Pep Guardiola’s former teammates at FC Barcelona. Enrique was in charge of Barça’s B side for around three years. It was within the same period that Pep was in the reign of Barcelona’s managerial position. Luis Enrique later went on to manage Barça.
Under his reign, the Spanish giants won a La Liga title and three domestic trophies in the form of Copa del Rey. Enrique was then given charge of the Spanish national team and was there from November 2019 to the latter stages of 2022. In July 2023, the 54-year-old was appointed as PSG’s manager.
7. Vincent Kompany
Vincent Kompany played under Pep Guardiola at Man City. The former player then dwelled into a managerial career after his stint as a footballer. Kompany was one of the stand-out managers of the EFL Championship 2022-2023 season as he led his side Burnley to a Premier League promotion.
However, he wasn’t able to work his charm around in the top flight of English football in the 2023-2024 campaign. Burnley was consequently relegated to the Championship again. But Vincent Kompany’s fearless style of play, his front-foot football was quite ominous to the naked eye. As a result of his brewing potential, the former City player landed the Bayern Munich managerial job just after Burnley’s relegation.