A 4-0 triumph over Brazilian side Fluminense in Jeddah saw City crowned champions of the world – with the Club also becoming the first English side to win the five major trophies of Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup in a single calendar year.
It also represented the Etihad manager’s 16th major trophy since he joined City in the summer of 2016 and 37th overall since he first began his transformational career as a head coach with Barcelona in 2008.
Furthermore, the victory in the Saudi Arabian port city saw Pep become the first manager to triumph in four FIFA Club World Cups, with Guardiola overtaking Carlo Ancelotti who has won the trophy on three occasions.
Having guided Barcelona to Club World Cup glory in 2009 and 2011 as well as with Bayern Munich in 2013, Guardiola has now achieved a fourth triumph in the global showpiece, something no other coach has achieved.
It’s further evidence of the 53-year-old’s standing as one of world football’s all-time greatest managers as well as being one of the game’s defining tacticians and strategic visionaries.
Friday’s victory also helped cap one of the most memorable and successful years in both City’s and Pep’s storied histories.
As well as guiding City to a first-ever Champions League success in 2023, in the process Pep also oversaw a historic Treble with the Club also claiming a third successive Premier League title alongside a famous FA Cup final derby victory over Manchester United at Wembley.
That astounding achievement also saw Pep become the first manager in the history of the game to secure what each country recognises as its most significant Treble twice, with the boss having previously achieved the feat with Barcelona in 2008/09.
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Further major silverware then followed in the shape of the UEFA Super Cup after a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Sevilla in Greece back in August.
Now Friday’s Club World Cup triumph, fittingly achieved in the spectacular surrounds of Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sport City Stadium, has set the seal on a year never to be forgotten.
Those 16 major trophies since Pep took charge at the Etihad also make him the most successful manager in European football during that period with the City boss having also earned a plethora of prestigious individual awards along the way.
Guardiola has now led City to five Premier League titles (2017/18, 2018/19, 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2023/24); four League Cups (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021), two FA Cups (2019, 2023), two Community Shields (2018, 2019), one Champions League (2023), one UEFA Super Cup (2023) and one FIFA Club World Cup (2023).
Amongst those myriad and memorable successes, Pep oversaw the majestic Centurions campaign of 2017/18 when City became the first English side to register 100 points in a league season.
By way of a stunning encore, that was then followed in 2018/19 by the Fourmidables campaign with City securing a stunning and unique domestic clean sweep of Community Shield, League Cup, FA Cup and Premier League.
Now 2023 stands as his and City’s finest season yet.
Guardiola‘s staggering record of achievement at City followed what were stellar spells at first Barcelona and later Bayern Munich with Pep establishing a template for being a serial winner from the get-go.
After enjoying a hugely successful career as a player with Barcelona - where he established himself as one of the game’s finest deep lying playmakers - Guardiola instantly demonstrated he possessed the Midas touch in managerial terms too.
Assuming the demanding managerial mantle at the Nou Camp in 2008/9, Pep promptly guided the Catalan club to the Treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League in his first season at the helm, becoming the youngest manager to win the latter.
That set the template for a trophy-laden spell in his native Catalunya with Barca winning 14 major trophies overall under his tutelage, including the double of La Liga and Champions League in 2011.
After leaving Barcelona and embarking on a year’s sabbatical, Pep then assumed the reigns at Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich in 2013 where his reputation as a magnet for silverware was only further emphasised.
During a three spell at the Allianz Arena between 2013 and 2016, Guardiola guided the Bavarian side to the Bundesliga title in each of those three seasons, including two German domestic doubles before then making the switch to City in the summer of 2016.
Since then, Guardiola has overseen the most successful period in City’s history with Friday’s latest success providing further proof positive that Pep continues to set the very highest of standards in excellence and quality.
Everyone at Manchester City would like to congratulate Pep on his latest historic achievement!
Pep’s managerial honours
Barcelona 2008 – 2011
La Liga: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11
Copa del Rey: 2008–09, 2011–12
Supercopa de España: 2009, 2010, 2011
UEFA Champions League: 2008–09, 2010–11
UEFA Super Cup: 2009, 2011
FIFA Club World Cup: 2009, 2011
Bayern Munich 2013 – 2016
Bundesliga: 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16
DFB-Pokal: 2013–14, 2015–16
UEFA Super Cup: 2013
FIFA Club World Cup: 2013
Manchester City 2016 –
Premier League: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23
FA Cup: 2018–19, 2022–23
EFL Cup: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21
FA Community Shield: 2018, 2019
UEFA Champions League: 2022–23
UEFA Super Cup: 2023
FIFA Club World Cup: 2023
