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Pep Guardiola is undoubtedly the single most innovative and successful coach of the modern era. His expressive and passionate football has redefined the standard of success and beauty in the modern game, and has won him titles across Spain, Germany and England.
The modern "super-coach," whilst associated with a style of winning based on intricate patterns of play, has worked to achieve a reputation paralleling greats like Johan Cruyff and Bill Shankly.
On that note, here are the five most iconic games of Pep Guardiola's managerial career.
#5 Manchester City 5-0 Liverpool | Premier League, 2017
The 2017-18 season saw Guardiola finally bring his attacking principles to fruition, as the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane ripped through a merciful Liverpool defense.
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The two teams, who would go on to become definitive title rivals with memorable battles in the years to come, looked terribly mismatched. This was not in any small part due to Sadio Mane's red card for a brutal high foot on Ederson.
The comprehensive victory over a strong Liverpool team put the rest of the league on alert. It provided a glimpse of Manchester City's dominant season as they marched to their first Premier League crown under Pep Guardiola.
#4 Man City 6-0 Chelsea | Premier League, February 2019
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City's foray was well into top gear as his side crushed a toothless Chelsea led by Maurizio Sarri.
After struggling to impose his fluid football at City in his first season, Guardiola proceeded to dominate the league with emphatic drubbings, scoring more than five goals on five occasions.
This February fixture was particularly memorable for the manner of ruthlessness on display against a misfiring Chelsea. Tormentor-in-chief Aguero bagged a hat-trick as a Sterling double and a Gundogan goal rounded out a comprehensive victory for Manchester City.
The reigning champions were pushed to the wire by Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool but eventually retained their Premier League crown in 2018-19.
#3 Bayern Munich 5-1 Borussia Dortmund | Bundesliga, October 2015
Guardiola's Bayern expedition was one of great tactical experimentation and domestic dominance. He took an already excellent side to re-engineered heights of modern attacking football, albeit he will always be criticized for failing to bring back the Champions League to Germany.
Guardiola fit in Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller to devastating effect against arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund, as Thomas Tuchel was humiliated in his first Der Klassiker.
The 5-1 victory on the night signified the vast difference in class, quality and technique between the two sides as Bayern once again romped to the title.
#2 Barcelona 5-0 Real Madrid | La Liga, November 2010
The 5-0 drubbing of Real Madrid, led by philosophical rival Jose Mourinho, was an emphatic statement of dominance and superiority.
Guardiola's Barcelona displayed a sleek style of football with the midfield brilliance of Iniesta and Xavi, and the attacking excellence of Lionel Messi and David Villa.
Many thought Jose Mourinho was the chink in Guardiola's armor and the kryptonite of superhuman football.
Setting up in a low defensive block, Barcelona dominated the game and pressurized Madrid into making mistakes, leading to goals from Xavi, Pedro, Jefferen and a double from David Villa.
#1 Barcelona 1-1 Chelsea | UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals, 2008-09
Barcelona's victory over Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final was one of the most thrilling and tightest of finishes that not even Guardiola could have claimed to have masterminded. The match was a combination of fate, luck and tactical mastery.
The second leg at Stamford Bridge had everything to play for as a goalless first leg at Camp Nou meant the winner would take it all on the night.
A star-studded Chelsea with the likes of Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard, were a premier force looking for their first-ever Champions League crown.
A Michael Essien scorcher gave Chelsea the lead under 10 minutes, with Barcelona throwing it all at their opponents with impeccable ball retention and pressure.
With a red card given to Eric Abidal, all hope seemed lost for Guardiola's Barcelona as Chelsea's resilient defense would not budge an inch.
That was until Messi found Iniesta on the edge of the box, who proceeded to launch a screamer into the top corner to send them through on away goals.
The game has gone down in infamy because of the controversial standard of refereeing, with Chelsea denied over three valid penalty shouts.
However, the resilience and spirit shown by Guardiola's Barcelona shone bright at the death and powered them on to their first Champions League under his reign.
