Following another Premier League title for Manchester City and another major trophy for Pep Guardiola, Jamie Redknapp has dubbed the Spaniard “the greatest manager ever”.
Speaking on Sky Sports‘ punditry panel after Man City lifted the title in their final home game against Chelsea, the former player waxed lyrical about the Catalan coach and his incredible managerial record, with this latest Premier League trophy making it five English league titles alone.
Redknapp then went on to state, “I think he is the greatest ever”, not only for what he’s done for football in this country but across Europe over the course of his career thus far.
Big words, and while many may debate over who that ‘all-time’ title goes to, it’s hard to argue against him being the best coach on the planet right now.
🗣️ "I think he is the greatest ever!"
Jamie Redknapp believes Pep Guardiola is the greatest football manager of all time pic.twitter.com/wBMBICbnxW
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 21, 2023
As the 49-year-old former Liverpool and Spurs player went on to add, he said he believes Pep Guardiola “has changed football.”
ADVERTISEMENT
“There’s been some great managers; if you go through history – Arrigo Sacchi, what he did at AC Milan… Johan Cruyff, what he did in terms of playing out from the back”, said Redknapp, “but if you go back to grassroots football, whatever, everyone plays the Pep way: out from the back.
“We thought this was impossible but it’s because of the way he has changed everyone’s perception of the game, the way everyone is so comfortable [on the ball], midfielders coming into different areas, splitting defences.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I think he is, for me, he is the greatest ever. He’s won 11 domestic titles in the 14 years that he’s been a manager, 48 major trophies [including as a player]. You can talk about Sir Alex Ferguson as well, Bill Shankly — but, for me, he has changed football forever.” As for Guardiola himself, he insists he knows what he and his team need to do for them to go down as one of the best of all time.
"We have to win the Champions League to be considered one of the best teams!"
Redknapp obviously isn’t the first to call Pep Guardiola the greatest manager ever — even Noel Gallagher made similar comments about his revolutionary impact on football — but City fans will be pleased to hear that his sights are now well and truly focused on the two remaining games.
Guardiola might still be behind Fergie on major honours, with Pep now boasting 33 to the legendary Manchester United manager’s 49, but he is winning trophies at an alarmingly quick rate (33 in 14 years) and will inevitably win many more.
ADVERTISEMENT
With an all-Manchester FA Cup final on 3 June and then another Champions League final just seven days later, they are on the brink of greatness in the form of the coveted treble. The only question is, are they going to pull it off?
You can watch their final home game of the 2022/23 season HERE and see them lift the Premier League trophy down below:
Featured Image — Sky Sports (via Twitter)/Optus Sport (via YouTube)
Sport
Manchester United’s Old Trafford regeneration project backed by UK government
Danny Jones
Manchester United have officially received government backing for the redevelopment of their stadium and the wider regeneration of the surrounding Old Trafford area.
One of the first things that co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS Group made a priority after acquiring their minority stake in the club was to bring the home ground up to standard and it looks as though that rather large task is now moving in the right direction.
With Chancellor Rachel Reeves dubbing the Old Trafford Regeneration Project as “a shining example” of the Labour plans to promote economic growth, Man United now have the full blessing of the government ahead of the real work beginning.
Liaising with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Trafford Council specifically to bring plans to fruition, the Old Trafford area as we know is set to be transformed significantly, with a new ‘Wembley of the North’ being the key component of the project.
ℹ️ The Old Trafford Regeneration Project has been backed by the government.#MUFC
The backing of the government means that beyond the club simply paying to redevelop the stadium itself, this will allow for other aspects such as improved transport infrastructure, housing and new businesses to be created as part of Old Trafford’s regeneration.
It’s also worth noting that no public money is on the table at present, with Ratcliffe, the Glazers and co. expected to foot the bill for all facets.
Reacting to the official statement by the UK Treasury, CEO Omar Berrada said: “The delivery of a world-class stadium can be the catalyst for major regeneration of an area of Greater Manchester which requires new investment to thrive again.
“We cannot achieve that wider aim on our own, which is why we welcome the announcement by the Chancellor and the ongoing support of the Mayor of Greater Manchester and Trafford Council.
If we work together, there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a landmark project around Old Trafford that the whole region can be proud of.”
This might not be Man United’s home forever. (Credit: The Manc Group)
As for the Mayor of Greater Manchester Mayor himself – who was appointed as a key figure on the Old Trafford Regeneration Taskforce – Andy Burnham went on to add: “With our devolved powers we’re mobilising the whole Greater Manchester system to lock in growth for the next decade and reap the rewards for our city-region and UK plc.
“We look forward to working with the Government on moving freight away from the site around Old Trafford to new locations to open up capacity for our rail network and unlock massive regeneration potential”, he continued, insisting that it will lead to “benefits across the whole of the North.”
Although it still remains unconfirmed whether or not the existing Old Trafford structure will be renovated – which would see an increased capacity of around 87,000 – or whether an entirely new 100k-seater stadium will be built instead, though the most recent fan survey seemed to favour the latter.
After fans all over the world were invited to create their own jersey designs using artificial intelligence back in December, with literally thousands of entries being submitted, the club now has its shortlist and it’s the fans who have the power to pick the winner.
Inviting Cityzens to have the final say this week, the intake has now been whittled down to just 10 different options – but which one tickles your fancy, Blues?…
There are no traditional red/yellow and black striped numbers to pick from this time around – both this year’s away kit and the 23/24 strips have had that covered of late – but there are some pretty classic combos that have been put together.
Alternatively, there are plenty more adventurous creations that have made the cut thus far.
Put together using Puma’s creator software, this initiative has launched alongside the club’s first fully-fledged generative AI goalkeeper kit which will debut this weekend.
Designed by goalkeeping duo Ederson and Stefan Ortega, as well as rising youngster Rico Lewis, the limited edition creation will be available exclusively in-store from the official City Stores at Etihad and Manchester Arndale.
Our limited edition PUMA AI Creator goalkeeper shirt, available as a CityStore (Stadium & Arndale) exclusive tomorrow, 25th January.
What do you make of it and, more importantly, which of the third kits do you like the look of best?
Fans have until 23:59 GMT on Wednesday, 29 January to pick their favourite but you best be happy with your decision because it will be the matchday third kit for a full year.
The winner will be chosen this summer ahead of not the upcoming campaign but the following season.
You can cast your ballot and choose your future City third kit HERE.
Danny Jones -
22nd May 2023 
