Pep Guardiola has been voted the most influential Premier League manager, with Jurgen Klopp ranking fifth. However, Klopp has been a thorn in Pep’s side for many years, and both will have a chance to face off in a blockbuster match in the Premier League this weekend.
Pep Surpasses Legends…
According to LiveScore, Pep Guardiola has been chosen as the most influential manager in English football in the last 25 years, based on votes from fans aged 18 to 24. The Spanish strategist received the most votes, surpassing some of the Premier League’s legendary managers.
Fans believe that Pep’s influence has surpassed that of the former legendary MU manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, who won 13 Premier League titles and 2 Champions League trophies.
Ferguson was the first English manager to achieve a domestic treble with a British team. The next to do so was Guardiola last year.
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is third on the list. He led the Gunners to three Premier League titles, including the unbeaten 2003/04 season and seven FA Cup titles.
Jose Mourinho follows in the rankings, placing above Klopp in the last position. The Roma manager has won three Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies in his coaching career.
… But Still Fears Klopp Notably
Jurgen Klopp is only fifth on the list. This comes as the two are set to clash in a crucial match on Saturday between Man City and Liverpool.
This encounter is one of the most exciting matchups in recent Premier League history, as both teams are led by two of the best managers today.
Guardiola and Klopp have faced each other 28 times throughout their careers, with their first encounter in the 2013 German Super Cup. According to LiveScore, the German coach has the upper hand, winning 46% of their encounters, while Guardiola has won only 35%.
Klopp has also defeated Guardiola more than any other manager. However, Liverpool enters this match after a 4-1 defeat to Man City at the Etihad Stadium.
The difference between the two teams is currently only one point, and Liverpool could take the top spot if they win. However, Klopp’s team has only beaten Man City twice at the Etihad since he was appointed as their manager in 2015.
Despite their long-standing rivalry, these two share mutual respect due to their love for football. Klopp has praised Guardiola on several occasions.
“He told me that when we are no longer in charge of any club, we will sit together and have a drink, even though I am not a drinker,” the German coach said about Guardiola in 2022.
“I am not Roger Federer, and Pep is not Rafael Nadal, but they compete at the highest level and are still good friends. Pep and I are not close friends because we don’t know each other that well. But I respect him a lot, and I know he respects what we do.”
De Bruyne Leads Players
In addition to voting for managers, fans ranked the most influential players in the Premier League era, considering their impact on matches. According to LiveScore, Kevin De Bruyne topped the list, with Mohamed Salah in second place. Behind them are Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, and Frank Lampard.
