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Pep Guardiola is widely regarded as one of the best tacticians in the game's history. A fine player during his playing days, Guardiola has also had roaring success on the other side of the touchline.
After breaking out at Barcelona in late 2000s, Guardiola has found success at three different clubs in as many different leagues. He has won at least three league titles at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and his current club Manchester City.
A proponent of the famed tiki-taka, Guardiola loves players who are good on the ball, including goalkeepers, who can build up play from the back. Over the years, many fine players, especially goalscorers, have flourished under the brilliant tactician.
On that note, here's a look at five players with the most goals under Pep Guardiola:
#5 Thomas Muller - 79 goals
Thomas Muller is one of the most underrated players in world football. However, he remains one of the last vestiges of the true one-club man, having only played for Bayern Munich throughout his career.
In over 600 appearances for the club across competitions since 2008-09, the 32-year-old has racked up an impressive 224 goals and 239 assists. More than one-third of those strikes came during his three-season association with Pep Guardiola, with Muller also returning 46 assists during this period.
It's the most Muller has netted under a single manager by a proverbial country mile. His 47 strikes under Jupp Heynckes comes a distant second.
Guardiola has praised Muller for his eye for goal, and the Raumdeuter has also returned the compliment, calling the Spaniard one of the best on the touchline.
The pair did have an infamous touchline bust-up after Muller was withdrawn by Guardiola in a heavy defeat against Barcelona at Camp Nou.
#4 Gabriel Jesus - 87 goals
Gabriel Jesus has had the highest success of his young career under Pep Guardiola. The 24-year-old centre-forward has scored nearly 90% of his career goals under the acclaimed tactician at Manchester City, while also bagging 43 assists.
Jesus is one of the first signings made by Guardiola after arriving at the Etihad from Bayern Munich in 2016. The tactician recently hailed Jesus, calling him 'one of the best signings' he has made.
Guardiola said:
“He runs for everyone and when he scores, I am the happiest man. He can play in the three positions upfront and he does it really well. Gabriel goes down, gets up and tries again. He’s a young player and one of the best signings we have done in this period together.”
The three-time Premier League winner is on course for his fourth title in five years, with Gabriel contributing 52 goals and 31 assists in this period. That includes two strikes and eight assists this season.
#3 Raheem Sterling - 115 goals
Raheem Sterling is one of three players who have scored over 100 goals under Pep Guardiola. The Englishman has also dished out nearly a century (81) of assists during this period.
Sterling has evolved into a world-class player under Guardiola's tutelage since arriving at the Etihad in 2015. Except for 2016-17, Sterling has netted over ten goals in five successive Premier League campaigns. He is on course to win his fourth league title in five years.
Guardiola recently praised Sterling after the 27-year-old's hat-trick in City's 4-0 win over Norwich City. He said:
“I have known Raheem for six seasons. I know him perfectly well. This season he was outstanding in goals and assists and his contribution to the team. During that period there are highs and lows. It’s part of life. Teams are not honeymoons. There are problems, and we have to solve them."
The Euro 2020 finalist will look for a strong end to the season as City eye their fourth league title in five years and their maiden Champions League triumph.
#2 Sergio Aguero - 124 goals
Sergio Aguero is one of the most lethal strikers to have graced the game since the turn of the century.
The recently retired Argentine enjoyed a fabulous decade-long stint at Manchester City, departing the Etihad last summer as their all-time top scorer, netting 260 times. Nearly half of those strikes came under Pep Guardiola, including 82 of his 184 goals in the Premier League.
Weeks before Aguero left the Etihad, Guardiola said about the striker:
“Sergio is irreplaceable. It’s not easy when you see more than 360 games played and more than 250 goals, the amount of titles ...So it’s the legend, the best striker this club has ever had for this century through the years."
#1 Lionel Messi - 212 goals
While Pep Guardiola has managed several fine players during his managerial career, none have made a greater impact than a certain Lionel Messi.
In just four seasons under the Spaniard, Messi shone like a million suns. He plundered over 200 goals to herald one of the most successful periods in Barcelona history.
This includes a stunning 73-goal 2011-12 campaign, one of the most prolific by any player in the game's history.
Together, the pair won a staggering 14 titles, including a continental treble in 2008-09 and a La Liga-Champions League double two years later.
Out of Messi's 212 strikes under Pep Guardiola , 138 came in La Liga and 43 in the Champions League. The Spaniard has hailed the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, saying:
"He is the best player of all time. I compare him with Pele. I am so happy to see this football."
