Pep Guardiola continues to expand his legend on the benches of world football. In just 16 and a half seasons as head coach (he will complete number 17 during the first half of 2026), the Catalan has already become the second with the most official titles in history, courtesy of 39; an achievement that confirms that his admired philosophy based on possession, offensive play and high pressure is as aesthetic as it is effective.
Likewise, who was also a midfielder and captain of Barcelona has had under his command some of the greatest luminaries of modern football, as Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Arjen Robben, Robert Lewandowski and Kevin De Bruyne, among others, endorse what has been said, as well as current references of the caliber of the insatiable scorer Erling Braut Haaland.
However, there is an illustrious name who was never coached by Guardiola and who the coach himself has publicly acknowledged that he would have liked to coach. “Neymar,” Pep stated bluntly, in an interview given to the official Manchester City website, clearing up any doubt about his admiration for the Brazilian attacker.
Of course, history could have been very different if the former Barça coach, then beginning his time at Bayern Munich, had convinced the São Paulo player in 2013, just when the latter had to decide where to land in Europe, with the Catalans and Real Madrid being the ones fighting the most for his incorporation. Finally Ney chose Barcelona, just a year after Pep left the aforementioned club.
In general terms, Josep Guardiola won 14 titles in just four years at the helm of the Blaugrana eleven, while Neymar Jr. celebrated 10 collective achievements, also in four campaigns at the Camp Nou, including the last Champions League won by the Catalans, in 2015. A crossroads that never came to fruition, but that continues to fuel one of the great “what would have happened ifs” of today.
