Pep Guardiola’s all-time XI: Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City — but who makes final all-conquering Spaniard’s team?
He has done more in eight years than most have in their entire career, so who shines above the rest to be included in this side
THE last man in our series of great managers’ all-time XIs is Pep Guardiola.
Despite his first post only arriving eight years ago, he has enjoyed more success than most do in their entire careers.
At Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Guardiola has won 21 major trophies and revolutionised the game of football.
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He is now at Manchester City and is expected to add to his medal haul.
Guardiola make it on to Louis van Gaal’s all-time XI, but who makes his?
Goalkeeper
Manuel Neuer
HARSH to leave Victor Valdes out, who was great for Guardiola at Barcelona.
But, Neuer completely revolutionised the art of goalkeeping.
The big German effectively became Bayern's last defender.
And, on top of that, he is absolutely world class.
Defence
Dani Alves
HE IS the second-most successful foreign in Spanish football history after Lionl Messi.
Guardiola brought him to the Nou Camp and he became the best right-back in the world.
Alves was also equally adaptable further forward and a brilliant attacking outlet.
Carles Puyol
GUARDIOLA'S capatin and one of the best central defenders in history.
Puyol was a battler and never shirked a tackle.
Showed his versatility by excelling at right-back in the 2009 Champions League victory over Manchester United.
Gerard Pique
A CLASSY defender, who never truly cut it in the Premier League.
Pique's game is clearly more suited to Spanish football — and he immediately stepped up to the plate.
Just 12 months after struggling at United, he dominated the Red Devils' attack in the Champions League final victory.
Considered by many to be the finest central defender on the planet on his day.
Eric Abidal
A BRILLIANT left-back who defied the odds.
Abidal was solid on the pitch and battled back from a liver tumour to earn his place back in the first team of the best side on the planet.
The Frenchman was a mainstay when fit and was given the captain's armband for the 2011 Champions League final victory in a fantastic gesture.
Was at the Nou Camp for Guardiola's entire stay.
Midfield
Sergio Busquets
NOT everyone's cup of tea, due to his antics — but a stunning player.
Busquets breaks up play and distributes the ball to a world class level.
Guardiola entrusted him ahead of Yaya Toure in central midfield.
Xavi
HE WAS Guardiola's successor on the pitch, and one of his most important men on it.
Xavi had an extremely accurate pass and with him on the pitch, he could create chances out of nothing.
A leader for Guardiola who embodied completely his manager's philosophy.
Andres Iniesta
GUARDIOLA'S go-to player.
Iniesta was — and still is — a sensational player, who was integral to everything good about Barcelona.
He would pop up with a goal when the team really needed it.
Attack
Lionel Messi
WON the Ballon d'Or in all four of the seasons Guardiola was his manager.
Messi was just a superstar and one of the greatest players of all time.
Scored in both finals of the Champions League wins under Pep.
Robert Lewandowski
JOINED on a free in Guardiola's second season — and outdid himself.
Lewandowski was already one of the most feared strikers around, but there were question marks over whether he would fit into the Tika-Taka system.
He did — and some. The Pole famously scored five goals during a nine-minute spell against Wolfsburg.
Sergio Aguero
GUARDIOLA has only just begun managing him — but his class is clear for all to see.
Aguero would have fitted seamlessly into the great Barcelona side.
If Pep is to achieve success at City, the Argentine will be key to that.
Sir Alex Ferguson's all-time XI