Pep Guardiola Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth, Life

Pep Guardiola Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth, Life
Manchester City's Manager, Pep Guardiola in 2018. (Photo credit: ESPN)

Pep Guardiola is a professional football manager from Spain recognized as one of the best coaches in the English Premier League (EPL). Guardiola’s success as a manager is one that surpasses that of his football career. Known for his intense and inspirational style of coaching, Guardiola inspires his players, motivates them to score amazing goals and celebrates in amazing fashion whenever his team achieves their objective. A coach with several laurels to his name, Guardiola is a disciplined and intelligent football manager who has earned the love and admiration of football fans worldwide. In this Pep Guardiola Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth and Personal Life, we look intently into the life of the amazing coach, observe the high points in his career and his rise to success.

Pep Guardiola Biography Facts, Age, Nicknames, Family, Wife, Kids, Team, Zodiac

  • Full Name: Josep “Pep” Guardiola Sala
  • Nicknames: The Exceptional One
  • Date of Birth: 18 January 1971
  • Age: 53 years
  • Place of Birth: Santpedor, Spain
  • Nationality: Spanish
  • Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)
  • Weight: 76 kg
  • Education: Barcelona youth academy
  • Father: Valentí Guardiola
  • Mother: Dolors Sala
  • Siblings: Francesca Guardiola i Sala (sister); Pere Guardiola (brother); Olga Guardiola (brother)
  • Spouse: Cristina Serra (married 2014)
  • Children: Marius Guardiola (son); Valentina Guardiola (daughter); Maria Guardiola (daughter)
  • Sports Coached: Football/Soccer (Association Football Manager)
  • Current Team Managed: Manchester City
  • Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Pep Guardiola Childhood Story and Early Life

Pep Guardiola Childhood Photo
Pep Guardiola’s Childhood Photo. (Photo Credit: FC Barcelona)

The third of four children born to Valenti Guardiola, who worked as a bricklayer and Dolors Sala, Guardiola’s interest in football was sparked when he was a child. Guardiola usually leaves home for hours, just to play football in a field close to his home. His interest in football saw him become a ball boy for Barcelona as a young boy. He later was part of Barcelona’s youth team. At the age of 20, Guardiola was selected for his skills as part of the senior team. At Barcelona, he played with current Barcelona coach, Luis Enrique and renowned football manager, José Mourinho coached him. Guardiola also played with football greats such as Carles Puyol and Xavi Hernández.

Pep Guardiola Football Career

After joining Barcelona’s football academy at the age of 13, Guardiola quickly progressed to make his first debut for the senior team in 6 years, after impressing first-team coach, Johan Cruyff in a youth team match. In the 1991/92 season, Guardiola became a regular first-team player and helped his side lift the Laliga and European Cup. His style of play earned him a place in coach Johan Cruyff’s Dream team.

Pep Guardiola Playing for Barcelona in 1992
Pep Guardiola Playing for Barcelona in 1992—From right to left, Josep “Pep” Guardiola Sala, Josep Mussons (former Barca VP), Albert Ferrer and Guillermo Amor. (Photo credit: Jordiferrer / Wikipedia)

Following the arrival of the new coach, Bobby Robson in the 1996/97 season, Guardiola was part of the squad that won the European Cup Winners Cup, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de España. The next season, Guardiola was appointed captain of the side and signed a contract with an extension which saw him stay at Camp Nou till 2001. After several surgeries for a prolonged calf injury, Guardiola finally decided to leave Barcelona in April 2001.

After leaving Barcelona, Guardiola moved to the Italian club, Brescia, where he played with the legendary footballer, Roberto Baggio. After playing for a brief period at Brescia, Guardiola moved to another Italian club, Roma. While at Roma, Guardiola was handed a four-month ban following a positive test for nandrolone. In September 2009, Guardiola was cleared of the charges after appealing. In 2003, Guardiola moved to Qatar Stars League club, Al-Ahli. He played in the 2004–05 Arab Champions League. The following season, he was subject to interest from EPL clubs, Manchester United and Chelsea but turned down their offers. 

Pep Guardiola Profile, Teams Coached, Managerial Career, Trophies Won

Barcelona (2007–2012)

In June 2007, Guardiola was appointed coach of Barcelona B team. As coach of the B team, Guardiola led the team to Tercera División title and Segunda División B playoffs in 2008, which the team won.

Following a vacant post in Barcelona first team manager position, he was selected to manage the first team in the 2007/08 season. Upon his appointment as manager, Guardiola offloaded most of Barcelona’s star players such as Ronaldinho, Deco and others. Samuel Eto’o who was linked to a move from the club but eventually stayed with the team. He signed new players such as Dani Alves, Gerard Pique and others. Guardiola’s boosted lineup helped his side as manager of the Laliga club. His first season as manager of the club, saw him claim his first winning treble. The club won the Laliga, the Champions League and the Domestic Cup, making them the first Spanish club to achieve the feat.

The next season, the 2009/10 season, Guardiola managed Barcelona to claim six trophies. He became the first manager in history to win the Laliga, Copa del Rey, the Champions League, the Spanish Super Cup, the European Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup which they won for the first time in history. He also became the club’s longest-serving manager. In the 2010/11 season, Guardiola led Barcelona to their third consecutive Spanish league win and the UEFA Champions League title. His fourth season in charge of the football affairs of Barcelona, saw him claim the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. In January 2012, Guardiola won the FIFA World Coach of the Year. After winning 14 trophies in four seasons, Guardiola stepped down as manager of Barcelona, making him the most successful manager in the clubs history.  

Bayern Munich (2013–2016)

After taking a break from managing, Guardiola announced that he’ll begin managing Bayern Munich in January 2013. After he began coaching Bayern Munich in the 2012/13 season, Guardiola lost his first official match as coach, the German Super Cup. He went on to claim the 2013 UEFA Super Cup. In December 2013, he won the FIFA Club World Cup. He also led Bayern Munich to their 23rd Bundesliga title and ended the season by winning the DFB-Pokal.

The 2014/15 season was really disappointing for Guardiola as he went on to lose the German Super Cup and was eliminated from the Champions League in the semi-final. After losing the German Super Cup and claiming the Audi Cup, it was announced that Guardiola will step down as manager of Bayern Munich at the end of the 2015/16 season. He ended his last season with Munich by claiming the DFB-Pokal.

Manchester City (2016–date)

In February 2016, Guardiola signed a three-year contract with EPL side, Manchester City. His first season as manager of the English club was a dismal one. He claimed no trophy in his first season with Man City, marking it the first time that will ever occur to the Spaniard. Following his failure to claim a trophy in the 2916/17 season, Guardiola made improvements in his team lineup in the 2017/18 season. He brought in goalkeeper, Ederson Moraes and wingbacks Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy. He also brought in Bernardo Silva. This tactic worked, as the team won the EPL title that season as well as the Carabao Cup.

Guardiola then went in to sign a contract extension with City which will see him stay at the club till 2021. At the start of the 2018/19 season, he added Riyad Mahrez to his squad. He went on to claim the Community Shield, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup and his second and consecutive Premier league title, making Man City the first EPL club to win a domestic treble. At the start of the 2019/20 season, Guardiola made several signings which amounted to over €1 billion, making the club the first in the world to spend more than a €1 billion on transfer fees. The club won the FA Community Shield, while Guardiola became the first manager to receive a yellow card in a match.

Pep Guardiola Net Worth, Endorsements, Sponsorships and Salary

With an annual salary of $19.7 million, Pep Guardiola has a net worth valued at $40 million USD. He has several personal endorsement/sponsorship deals with big brands such as the German sportswear brand – Puma, worth about $66.5 million per season, as well as with Nike, to mention a few.

Pep Guardiola Personal Life and Trivia

Pep Guardiola with his wife and kids
Manchester City’s Boss, Pep Guardiola with his wife and children in 2018. (Photo credit: metro.news)

Guardiola is married to Cristina Serra whom he met when he was 18 years old. The couple got married in a discreet ceremony in 2014. They have 3 children—Marius Guardiola, Valentina Guardiola and Maria Guardiola.

Guardiola is non-religious and has 3 siblings. His younger brother, Pete Guardiola, is a top football agent, representing top players such as Luis Suarez.

Guardiola is known to air out his political opinions such as his support for Catalonia independence.


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