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.”
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“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.
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“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.
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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’s Club de Padel claps back at ’embarrassing’ copycat ASOS product
Daisy Jackson
A local Manchester business has sarcastically pointed out the glaring similarities between a new t-shirt on ASOS and one of its own designs.
Club de Padel has a range of retro-inspired merch with UN:IK, a small independent streetwear brand also based here in Manchester.
Its collection of t-shirts, hoodies, tracksuits, hats and bags often feature a design of an illustrated padel ball (which to the untrained eye is basically a tennis ball) in motion.
But this week a t-shirt appeared on ASOS that also featured an illustrated padel ball in motion, just in a slightly different colour palette.
The ASOS version, which has now been removed from sale, also undercut Club de Padel’s price by £6.
Since Club de Padel took the ’embarrassing’ copycat product public on their Instagram page, ASOS has launched an investigation and taken it off their website.
The sports venture, based at Deansgate Square and the only padel club in Manchester, wrote: “Love the new designs ASOS, kinda reminds us of something though…
The ASOS t-shirt that Club de Padel has said copies their merch. Credit: ASOSClub de Padel’s t-shirt created by Manchester brand UN:IK. Credit: Club de Padel
“Ah. Well that’s embarrassing… We’ve got a new line coming soon with UN:IK Clothing you’re just gonna love ASOS.
“In the meantime we made this for you @asos, save your design team a job.”
An ASOS spokesperson said: “We take intellectual property issues very seriously and have removed this product from sale while we investigate further.”
Of the Club de Padel and UN:IK collaboration, aka the real deal, UN:IK says it has ‘served up a staple for us, retro inspired leisure pieces with Manchester’s first ever padel club’.
Club de Padel in Manchester has gone public to poke fun at ASOS
They wrote: “Inspired by owners after a trip to Spain, Club de Padel has hit the city with a wave and the lifestyle brand we have created with them reinforces the fastest growing sport across Europe.
“Our classic vintage washes and oversized fits, working with independent designs as always on this local independent partnership. Don’t be afraid to the sport, we’ll guarantee you love it as much as these clothes.”
Manchester Remembers release unbelievable new kits featuring iconic Manc landmarks for 2024 charity match
Danny Jones
The Manchester Remembers Foundation have just released the official kit designs for this year’s upcoming charity football match and they’re utterly amazing.
The 2024 Manchester Remembers charity game is fast approaching, with this year’s edition set to take place in July and the excitement is really starting to build – especially with kits as eye-catching as these.
Roping in help from local media and production company Badger and Coombes, as well as getting Lionesses legend Sue Smith involved in the kit launch, the brand new Legends and Celebs kits have finally been revealed in extremely fine fashion.
Lovingly made once again by Oldham-based kit manufacturers, Hope and Glory, and with Salfordian fashion brand Marc Darcy Menswear serving as the main sponsor, the new shirt designs feature incredibly detailed drawings of recognisable locations around Manchester. Just look at them:
— The McrRemembers Foundation™️⚽️🐝 (@McrRemembers) April 19, 2024
The 2024 Manchester Remembers kits have officially been unveiled.
As you can see, iconic Manc landmarks like Old Trafford and the Etihad Stadium take pride of place in the semi-opaque sublimated pattern on both the white and black versions of the kit.
Other noticeable buildings include Manchester Cathedral, the Central Library, Manchester Central (formerly the GMEX) and even a nice little nod to the Metrolink and Bee Network, just to name a few.
The incredibly detailed design pays homage to the city we all know and love and is a big step up from the already very well-received kits from last year’s charity match.
Once again, all the proceeds from the shirt sales go straight back into the Manchester Remembers Foundation and its partnered charities, which raise money for the families of those sadly lost in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack.
Celebs stripLegends kitYou can pre-order the shirts ahead of their release in May HERE and they’re very affordable compared to most footy kits these days.
With a whole host of exciting names taking part in the 2024 edition of the charitable community-driven event, including ex-Manchester United stars Antonia Valencia and Danny Simpson, local celebs like soap star Adam Thomas, YouTuber ‘Angry Ginge’ and many more, it’s going to be a momentous day.
This year marks just the third time the game has been held but the amazing people attached to this non-profit, not to mention the thousands that have turned up to see the wholesome fixture, have already helped raise over £117k for the associated charities. Unbelievable stuff.
Returning to Oldham Athletic‘s Boundary Park for the second year running, tickets for the game on Sunday, 28 July are already available and priced at only a fiver for under 16s and just £10 for adults, it’s one of the most uplifting and affordable afternoons of live sport you’ll find the region.
If you’ve not heard about this truly inspiring annual match until now, you can find out more HERE.
Danny Jones -
22nd May 2023 
