Alex Ferguson congratulates Pep Guardiola on reaching 1,000 managerial matches
What's the story
Sir Alex Ferguson, the legendary former manager of Manchester United, has congratulated Pep Guardiola on the occasion of his 1,000th match as a manager. The milestone will be reached when Manchester City take on Liverpool on Matchday 11 of the Premier League 2025-26 season on Sunday. Ferguson made the announcement on behalf of the League Managers Association (LMA), welcoming Guardiola into their Hall of Fame 1,000 Club.
Recognition
Sir Alex lauds Guardiola
Ferguson lauded Guardiola for his deep love and passion for the game. "Pep! I am absolutely delighted to welcome you to join the prestigious LMA Hall of Fame 1,000 Club. Your deep love and passion for the game has always been so evident and you should be very proud of the indelible impact you continue to have across the global game." He added that reaching 1,000 matches and achieving such longevity in football is a landmark that can never be underestimated.
Career path
Guardiola set to manage his 1,000th match
Guardiola began his managerial career with Barcelona B before taking over the main Barcelona job. He then had a successful stint at Bayern Munich before joining Manchester City in 2016. Overall from his 999 managerial matches, Guardiola has won 715. He has drawn 156 games besides losing 128. He owns a win percentage of 71.59. So far, he has won 40 trophies as a manager in his career.
Information
I am so proud to be reaching 1,000 games: Guardiola
Speaking at a press conference on the upcoming occasion, Guardiola said: "I am so proud to be reaching 1,000 games as a manager which has always been a special ambition for me."
Praise
Richard Bevan and Mikel Arteta hail the Spaniard
Richard Bevan, the LMA chief executive, praised Guardiola for his dedication to excellence and unmatched will to win. He said Guardiola's achievements in Spain, Germany, and England are unprecedented and continue to shape the game for future generations. Rival boss Mikel Arteta also hailed Guardiola's achievement, calling him "the most important person in my football career."
Future plans
Guardiola rules out Rodri's availability for Liverpool clash
Guardiola has already said that he won't manage another club after Manchester City. The team currently sits second in the Premier League, six points behind leaders Arsenal. Liverpool are closely trailing the Blues with just a point separating them. Ahead of their clash on Sunday, Guardiola confirmed that they are unlikely to risk Rodri who missed the midweek Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund due to an injury setback.