"Whether it was swapping Barcelona B for Barcelona after just one season, moving to Bayern Munich or taking on the Premier League with Manchester City, he has usually come out on top. On his first day at the Etihad Stadium in 2016, he admitted that, despite trophies in Spain and Germany, the question on everyone's lips ahead of his arrival in England was: "How good is Pep?" He has already answered it once with 18 trophies in nine years in Manchester."
"Had things played out differently, Guardiola might already be enjoying his retirement on a beach in the Maldives or a golf course in Portugal. He chose to stay at City, in part, because the beginning of this past season -- only the second to end without a trophy during his spell at the Etihad -- was so difficult and he didn't want to leave the club in a mess."
Pep Guardiola pursued progressively tougher challenges at Barcelona B, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, winning major trophies in each role. He arrived in England facing questions about his abilities and secured 18 trophies in nine years at Manchester City. A difficult start to the most recent season and the desire not to leave the club destabilized prompted him to remain, signing a contract extension through 2027. He now faces the task of rebuilding another title-winning side amid a substantially altered landscape. Of the Champions League final squad from two years ago, 15 players have departed or been moved to the fringes.
Read at ESPN.com
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