Pep Guardiola
Guardiola Names His Toughest Career Rival

The Manchester City boss reflects on his historic rivalry with Klopp, admitting the former Liverpool manager posed the greatest challenge he's ever faced.

Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has described former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp as the strongest opponent of his entire career.

The two iconic managers faced each other 30 times in official matches throughout their careers. Klopp won 12 of those encounters, Guardiola 11, with the remaining seven ending in draws. Their rivalry began in the Bundesliga, when Guardiola was in charge of Bayern Munich (2013–2016) and Klopp was managing Borussia Dortmund (2008–2015).

Remarkably, across Guardiola’s 17 seasons as a professional coach, no other manager has defeated him more times than Klopp.

“Klopp's Liverpool was the biggest challenge of my managerial career. He always gave me a headache. I spent so many days and nights with my coaching staff trying to figure out how to stop him.

There were moments when I thought, ‘I’ve figured it out,’ and the next day I was devastated.

The three or four league titles we won against Klopp are our greatest achievements because of the incredible level he set. I’ve never faced a tougher rival,” - Guardiola said in a UEFA video course for Pro License certification, as quoted by Marca.

A Legendary Duel

The Klopp-Guardiola rivalry has been a defining feature of European football for over a decade. Both coaches brought unique philosophies, high-press intensity, and tactical brilliance to the pitch. Their clashes regularly influenced title races, particularly in the English Premier League, where their teams often finished neck-and-neck.

Under Klopp’s leadership, Liverpool captured the following trophies:

  • Premier League
  • FA Cup
  • Two EFL Cups
  • FA Community Shield
  • UEFA Super Cup
  • FIFA Club World Cup

Meanwhile, Guardiola has amassed 18 major titles with Manchester City, including:

  • Six Premier League titles
  • Four EFL Cups
  • Three FA Community Shields
  • Two FA Cups
  • One UEFA Champions League
  • One UEFA Super Cup
  • One FIFA Club World Cup

As Klopp steps away from his managerial post at Liverpool, the football world reflects on a rivalry that defined an era. For Guardiola, the competition with Klopp wasn’t just tactical — it was personal, emotional, and career-defining.

Published by Patrick Jane
05.05.2025