Josep "Pep" Guardiola (born 18 January 1971) is a Spanish football manager and player. He start his career joining La Masia at the age of 13, at the youth academy of Barcelona for six years making his debut in 1990 against Cadiz CF. He moved up into the first-team and he became the pivot of the Dream Team. After that for shortly just in 1991-92 season he became a first team regularand at only 20 years old and was a key component of a side that won La Liga and the European Cup. Italian magazine Guerin Sportivo present Guardiola as the finest player in the world under the age of 21.
In 1997–98 season, Barcelona rejected offers from Roma and Parma for Guargiola. After long and complicated contract talks, Guardiola signed a new contract with Barcelona which extended his stay until 2001.
A calf muscle injury sent Guardila out from the pitches for most of 1997-98 season. This season Barcelona won a league and cup double under new manager Louis Van Gaal. He returned into action next season and Barcelona once again won the league mostly thanks to the performances of Rivaldo and Luís Figo. On 8 June 1998, Guardiola went on surgery to try to solve once and for all the problems that he was experiencing with his calf which had led to him missing the 1998 FIFA World Cup for Spain. A largely disappointing 1999–2000 season ended once again in surgery as Guardiola missed the last three months of the season due to a serious ankle injury.
On 11 April 2001, Barcelona's captain announced his intention to leave the club after a long 17 years. On 24 June 2001, Guardiola played his last match with Barcelona in the last game of the season against Celta Vigo. After the game he said: "It's been a long journey. I'm happy, proud, happy with the way people treated me and I have made many friends. I cannot ask for more. I have had many years in the elite. I did not come to make history but to make my own history.
Pep played 479 games for the club, in 12 seasons in the Barcelona first team, winning 16 trophies. He won six league titles, a European Cup and Olympic gold, amongst other numerous trophieshe and he was a part of a gifted side Barcelona.
After Barca he had played for Brescia and Roma and at the and in Al-Ahil. His time in Italy, however, was unhappy and including four months ban after testing positive for Nandroline. Eight years later he cleared, but his time in Italy was not nearly as successful as his career at Barcelona. He finished with 71 games in Italy.
Guardiola was appointed coach of FC Barcelona B on 21 June 2007. Under his leadership Barcelona B in 2008 were classified in the play off matches for the second division. After victories in these contests Barcelona B achived promotion. FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta announced before the end of the 2007–08 season that Guardiola would be appointed manager of FC Barcelona to replace Frank Rijkaard at the end of the season. 
And from 2008 until today hi was the best coatch and the best leader in Barcelona history. His achivment: - Victories: 175, Draws: 46, Defeats: 21
- Goals scored: 618 (2,55 per match)
- Goals conceded: 178 (0,73 per match)
- Winning % : 72,31%
Honours as manager
- 2011 FIFA Best Manager of the Year
- Best manager in 2009 and 2011 according to the IFFHS
- ONZE d’Or as best European manger in 2009 and 2011
- Best LFP manager in 2009 and 2011
- World's best manager according to World Soccer in 2009 and 2011
- Royal Order of Athletic Merit 2010
- Gold medal from the Parlament de Catalunya
- 2009 Catalan of the year
- Santpedor's favourite son in 2009
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