HE’S the football manager who has broken multiple records on the pitch – and has one more in his sights.
With the second half of the Premier League season underway, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, 53, is gunning for a fourth title in a row, which will further cement his status as one of the league’s all-time greats.
Before becoming a head coach, he played for FC Barcelona, where he starred for Johan Cruyff’s legendary ‘Dream Team’, as well as subsequent sides like Roma and the Spanish national team.
But it’s his time as a manager where Pep has shone even more, notching up achievements including becoming the only manager to win the continental treble twice.
It’s helped Pep to amass an impressive fortune – he is reportedly worth £100million and paid £19.7million a year by the Blues.
Now also the subject of new BBC doc Pep Guardiola: Chasing Perfection, we look into the manager’s glamorous life away from the pitch with wife Cristina and their three children.
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Doomed fleet of cars
Despite having driven a range of enviable motors, Pep is renowned for not being the world’s greatest driver.
Last year, we reported that he has damaged cars collectively worth £460,000 since joining Man City in February 2016.
They included a £200,000 silver Bentley, GTX700, a £150,000 Range Rover, an £80,000 black Mercedes GLE and a £30,000 Mini Cooper.
A source said: “Pep is brilliant at many things but driving doesn’t appear to be one of them, he has struggled with the roads in Manchester and had a couple of bumps.”
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The manager’s clumsiness when it comes to motors was further described by authors Lu Martin and Pol Ballus, in the 2019 book Pep’s City: The Making Of A Superteam.
“He has a reputation from his Barcelona days of being a hapless driver and this is his fourth car he has owned since coming to Manchester,” they wrote.
“His wing mirrors don’t survive for long and he’s also managed to fill a diesel Range Rover with petrol and mangle a silver Bentley.”
Jet-setting holidays
After winning the treble – the Premier League, UEFA Champions League and FA Cup – in 2023, Pep celebrated with a trip to Egypt with Cristina and their children Maria, 23; Marius, 21; and Valentina, 16.
They spent two days in Cairo and six days exploring Aswan and Luxor, where they visited the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Giza.
During the trip, Pep was showered with gifts including a replica of King Tutankhamun’s mask – and treated to lunch in a hotel overlooking the pyramids.
“We welcomed him with flowers, souvenirs and promotional material about various Egyptian tourist and archaeological sites,” Nisreen Othmanli, from Egypt’s tourism board, told Arab News.
In 2022, Pep celebrated winning his fourth Premier League title with a luxury holiday to Barbados with Cristina.
He was seen lapping up the waves on an enviable white sand beach before retreating to a high-end resort.
That same year, he was seen on a romantic boat trip, dining at fancy restaurants and browsing expensive shops, in Venice, Italy.
Ahead of joining Man City back in 2016, Pep took some time out with his family on a private yacht that they sailed along the Ibiza coastline.
£11m properties
In 2017, Pep splashed out on one of the most expensive properties sold that year in Greater Manchester.
He spent £2.7million on a luxury apartment in City Suites, which was in the “most desirable address” in Salford, next to a wealth of designer shops, high-end restaurants and wine bars.
As part of the deal, Pep had access to an 18-metre indoor spa pool, an exquisite spa and sauna facilities as well as a 24-hour gym.
Other benefits included two private parking spots, a 24-hour concierge team, dry-cleaning services and access to a private executive lounge.
Pep’s apartment is in a private section of the hotel, which is believed to occupy two of 16 floors. Guests can also rent rooms per night or opt for longer stays too.
It was considered an unusual option due to most footballers from Manchester City and United choosing to live in leafy Cheshire, known for its sprawling mansions in the countryside.
My wife is the best in the world at many things, but especially in fashion. So she says normally to me, don’t wear this or wear that, so I follow her
Pep Guardiola
Pep also bought an 8,000-square-foot mansion in Pedarlbes, which is the most expensive area in Barcelona, for £8.55million back in 2021 .
The stunning white home is nestled in the foothills of Sant Pere Màrtir mountain and boasts breathtaking views of the city.
It features a spacious living area, a high-end kitchen, a large private swimming pool and balconies across two of the storeys to take advantage looking out of over the picturesque landscape.
During a one-year work sabbatical in 2012, Pep lived in a luxurious New York apartment that cost £19,500-per-month and overlooked Central Park.
The building, located in Upper West Side, used to be the home of other celebs including X-Files actor David Duchovny and Barbara Streisand.
Inside the apartment was four bedrooms, bathrooms and a study, where it’s claimed the manager practised German before taking over at Bayern Munich.
Wardrobe fit for a model
Pep has become known for his style at the Etihad Stadium, often sporting turtle necks and branded jumpers instead of always going for stuffy suits.
Among his outfits is his signature grey ‘hoodigan’, which was made by Theresa May’s favourite Italian designer Herno and reportedly costs £1,200.
The manager was seen wearing the oversized item – considered “lucky” by fans – 30 times between the start of the 2019 season and May.
Pep has also been pictured in ‘MDCR’ – referring to ‘Madchester’ – jumpers and an array of items with the letter ‘P’ on them.
Earlier this month, he revealed his fashion choices are made by his wife Cristina – whom he met while he was modelling designer gear in Serra Claret, a fashion store owned by her family in Barcelona.
He said: “My wife is the best in the world at many things, but especially in fashion. So she says normally to me, don’t wear this or wear that, so I follow her.
“I am smart enough to know that when people are much much better than me, follow their advice and hers is really good.”
Perhaps he is playing down his own fashion credentials, however. In throwback snaps from the Nineties, Pep was seen modelling on the catwalk for Antonio Miró, while playing for Barcelona.
It was reported that every item from the Catalonian designer sold out just a few days after the event.
Priceless watches
His love for fashion doesn’t stop there, Pep is also known to have an impressive collection of watches.
Among them was a Richard Mille (RM) RM 27-01 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal, which he was pictured with on a golf course, that costs around £590,000 due to there only being ten in the world.
Other ultra-expensive timepieces seen on his wrist include a £455,000 RM 022 Tourbillon Aerodyne, a £75,000 RM 010 ‘Manchester City’ and the RM 004 All Gray, which costs more than £150,000.
Last year Pep was seen wearing a RM 67-02 watch – they typically cost £228,000 but his timepiece was a United Arab Emirates edition, which is not for sale.
He has also been seen sporting a £55,000 Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Chronograph 5905P and a £12,500 Rolex Cellini.
£500k wine collection
Away from the pitch, it seems the Man City boss is a secret fan of the reds… of the wine variety that is.
In 2021, it was reported that Pep forked out £200,000 on a Spanish vineyard’s finest vintage bottles and reportedly drinks a glass or two after football matches.
Friends told The Daily Star that he spent as much as £500,000 on fancy reds including the very best Riojas, prized Priorat and Dibera del Duero labels.
A source said: “His main interest is that of a collector of fine vintages, and he sees the value of them as investments… Not only does he enjoy a glass of wine, he really knows his stuff too.”
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Pep reportedly eyed up some of the fancy reds for his restaurant Tast Catalia, which he opened in Manchester back in 2018 alongside two Man City directors.
Previously, he said the “best way to enjoy” World Cup matches was “at home with red wine”.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
