5 iconic moments from Pep Guardiola's career
Josep Guardiola - a name that still echoes in the corners of the Nou Camp. The man who gifted them glory. The man who reinstated La Blaugrana to their status as one of the best clubs in the world. Guardiola arrived in tumultuous times at the Nou Camp and left leaving a legacy of his own.
A lot has changed since the Spaniard left Barcelona, but one thing still remains intact. Josep Guardiola almost always gets the better of his most bitter rivals. A brilliant player as well as a coach, few can disagree over the debate of the Spaniard as a world-class manager and an all-time great in the game's history.
One of the very few men to have had a glittering career both as a player and a manager, Guardiola is one of the only seven names who have won the European Cup both as a player and as a coach.
The man who tapped into to the revolutionary tiki-taka tactic with aplomb, Guardiola's contribution to the world of football will never be forgotten in the years to come.
Let's see 5 of the most crucial moments that made the legend of Josep Guardiola we see today:
#5: 100th European match as a coach
Marking a century with something special is a dream for everyone. In case of footballers, it has to be with a goal or two. In case of a manager, a win would suffice.
But, the Bayern Munich squad had a special surprise for Guardiola in his 100th European match as a coach. Earlier, Bayern had drawn Porto in the quarter-finals and were being touted as favourites to qualify for the semis. However, the match ended in a 3-1 defeat for the Bavarians away from home. Porto also ended Bayern's 11-match unbeaten streak.
There was a lot of pressure on Bayern as Porto came to the Allianz Arena for the second leg. It was Pep's 100th European match and they had a tough task on their hands. However, the team not only exacted revenge on Porto but also gifted Guardiola one of the finest moments of his career with a whopping 6-1 win. They qualified for the quarter-finals, with Guardiola adding another special moment in his chunk of memories.
The 100th European match as a coach couldn't have got any better than a 6-1 win coupled with and an amazing comeback.