Already home to the world’s best players, we at Icons have now added the world’s best manager, Pep Guardiola, to our ever-expanding roster of stars. The Barcelona boss, one of the most decorated figures in modern football, has signed an exclusive range of photos for Icons. Guardiola, who made his name in Johan Cruyff’s legendary Barcelona ‘Dream Team’ of the 90s, has returned as manager to create a side of his own that looks even better.

Like so many Barcelona legends, Guardiola’s story begins in the confines of La Masía, the old Catalan farmhouse situated near Camp Nou and home to Europe’s most prolific youth academy. Guardiola left his hometown of Santpedor to enrol in 1984 at the age of 13, and began working his way up through the youth system.
Johan Cruyff’s appointment as Barcelona manager in 1988 would prove a seminal moment in Guardiola’s development. In his first week at the club, Cruyff paid an impromptu visit to watch the youth team at Barcelona’s ‘Mini’ stadium. With half-time approaching, the Dutchman wandered over to youth coach Charly Rexach and instructed him to move the gangly Guardiola from right wing to defensive midfield pivot. Guardiola adapted to the unfamiliar role with ease. It was the first of Cruyff’s many innovations, and surely one of his most significant.
Two years later Guardiola was handed his first team debut, and in the 1991-92 season the 20-year-old became a first team regular, playing as pivot in Cruyff’s supreme European Cup and La Liga-winning Dream Team. Guardiola was heralded as one of the world’s brightest young talents, showing maturity and guile way beyond his tender years. As one of few Catalans among established foreign stars such as Michae Laudrup and Hristo Stoichkov, and a sizeable Basque contingent featuring Andoni Zubizarreta and José Mari Bakero, Guardiola became an indispensable member of the side.
In the 11 illustrious seasons that followed his 1990 debut, Guardiola won 16 trophies with Barcelona, including four consecutive La Liga titles between 1990 and 1994. Cruyff left his position as manager in 1996, and Guardiola was named club captain as members of the Dream Team gradually dispersed. More silverware followed under Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal, but in 2001 - having made 479 appearances for Barcelona and won 47 caps for Spain - Guardiola called time on his glorious career in Catalonia.
Few could have expected Guardiola to better the achievements of his playing career as a manager, but since his instalment at Camp Nou in 2008, that is exactly what he has done. Since winning a historic ‘sextuple’ of trophies in his first season in charge, Guardiola has led Barcelona to win 13 of 16 possible trophies in under four breathtaking years. He is already the most successful manager in the club’s history, having beaten his mentor Cruyff’s record total of 11 major trophies.
The phenomenal talent of one Leo Messi has, of course, been central to the success of Guardiola’s answer to Cruyff’s Dream Team. But Guardiola has instilled a sense of unity and family at Barcelona and nurtured the perfect environment for his team to flourish. A powerful team ethic prevails over the egos and disharmony that soured the latter stages of Frank Rijkaard’s reign. While José Mourinho's Real Madrid may be in pole position to land La Liga title this season, Guardiola has accrued a formidable record in Clásicos, with nine wins and only a single loss in 13 meetings.
For his midfield generals and fellow La Masía graduates Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Cesc Fabregas, Guardiola is not just a manager, but a role model and childhood hero. Iniesta, for one, grew up with a poster of Pep next to his bunk. It is through this ludicrously gifted collection of midfielders that Guardiola transmits the footballing principles he grew up with. The dark hair is gone, but the mind remains as sharp as ever, and the vision and inspiration that made him a Barcelona legend in the first place have extended to management seamlessly.
The numbers are staggering. In total, Guardiola has landed 29 trophies in under 15 seasons as a player and manager at Barcelona. He has been the driving force behind arguably the two greatest sides in football history. Barcelona players, directors and fans alike will be hoping to tie him down for years to come. But whether he leaves in ten years or ten days, his is a legacy that will never be forgotten.
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View our exclusive collection of personally signed Pep Guardiola photos here
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