Six Managers Who Outshone Pep Guardiola in League Races

Pep Guardiola's managerial dominance is a well-established fact in modern football. His record of 12 league titles across spells with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City is unparalleled. However, the statistic that only six managers have ever finished a league season above him offers a fascinating glimpse into the elite company Guardiola keeps, even in his rare 'defeats.'

This list, compiled by Planet Football, highlights managers who achieved extraordinary seasons to overcome Guardiola's teams. Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid in 2011-12, Antonio Conte's Chelsea in 2016-17, and Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool in 2019-20 are prime examples of title races where exceptional performances were required to dethrone Guardiola's sides.

Interestingly, Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham Hotspur also finished ahead of Guardiola's Manchester City in the 2016-17 season, securing second place. This underscores that even when not winning the title, Guardiola's teams are consistently among the best.

Mikel Arteta's inclusion, having finished ahead of Guardiola twice with Arsenal, marks him as a particularly significant challenger. Arne Slot's recent success with Liverpool in the 2024-25 season also adds a contemporary dimension to this exclusive club. These instances serve as benchmarks for managerial excellence, demonstrating that only the very best can consistently challenge, let alone surpass, Guardiola's league campaigns.