Pep Guardiola XI: Aguero and Iniesta miss out on Ultimate Pep Guardiola XI

Barcelona. Bayern Munich. Manchester City. Pep Guardiola has managed three of the biggest teams in world football and, wherever he has gone, the serial winner has delivered silverware. But what players benefitted the most from Guardiola's stewardship? Here, WhoScored.com take a look at the best rated XI during the Spaniard's time as manager of the three clubs since the start of the 2009/10 season.



For the purposes of this article, each player must have played at least a full league season's worth of games to come into consideration for each great manager's XI...

Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) - 6.87 rating


A goalkeeper tailormade for Pep Guardiola's possession-based approach to dominating opponents, in inheriting Manuel Neuer following his appointment as Bayern boss in 2013, the Spanish head coach had the ideal shotstopper to act as an eleventh outfielder. Neuer was already versed in the demands that came with playing for a team that would swamp sides, it's no shock that two of the goalkeeper's three best seasons in terms of pass success rate came with Guardiola at the helm as he kicks off this XI with a WhoScored rating of 6.87.

Right-back: Dani Alves (Barcelona) - 7.63 rating

Establishing himself as the best right-back in the world during his stint with Barcelona, Dani Alves was a key member for Pep Guardiola's side during their respective times together. The forward-thinking Brazilian forged a fine partnership with Lionel Messi down the Barcelona rght and it was their partnership that saw the Blaugrana dominate European football for a period under Guardiola. Alves' fine form ensures he makes this team with an excellent WhoScored rating of 7.63.

Centre-back: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich) - 7.21 rating

While football fans' lasting memory of Jerome Boateng under Guardiola is his falling over in Bayern's hefty Champions League loss at Barcelona during the Spaniard's reign, the German centre-back did plenty good in their three years together. Boateng bought into Guardiola's philosophy with ease as he finished in the top three in the Bundesliga for passes per game between 2013 and 2016 and makes this team with a WhoScored rating of 7.21.

Centre-back: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona) - 7.21 rating

Before Fernandinho and Guardiola's pet project to turn a midfielder into a defender, there was Javier Mascherano. Signed as a tough tackling midfielder, Guardiola instead turned the Argentine into a centre-back during their time together at Barcelona and the decision proved a masterstroke. He forged a solid partnership with Gerard Pique at the heart of the Barcelona defence and, like Boateng, features here with a WhoScored rating of 7.21.

Left-back: David Alaba (Bayern Munich) - 7.24 rating

Rounding off the defence is David Alaba, who came away from his three years under Guardiola with a WhoScored arting of 7.24. The Austrian had already excelled under Jupp Heynckes, yet with Guardiola at the Allianz Arena helm, Alaba established himself as perhaps the best left-back in Europe at the time, and improved his all round defensive game as Guardiola utilised his skillset to develop him at centre-back, too

Right midfield: Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich) - 7.77 rating

Injuries may have impacted Arjen Robben's career, yet in 2014/15, he was arguably one of the best in world football. It was in that campaign where the flying Dutchman earned a WhoScored rating of 8.45, that better than any other Bundesliga player. All in all, Robben was at his dazzling best under Guardiola as his average WhoScored rating (7.77) notes. The 36-year-old earned 16 WhoScored man of the match awards under Guardiola, scoring 32 goals and registering 14 assists.






Central midfield: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 7.63 rating

The only Manchester City representative in this XI is the Cityzens' creative force Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian has become one of the best midfielders in the game under the stewardship of Guardiola, as noted in his notable WhoScored rating (7.63). De Bruyne has maximised his exceptional attacking vision in the final third having chipped in with 52 assists since Guardiola was appointed City boss in 2016.

Central Midfield: Xavi (Barcelona) - 7.56 rating

Barcelona's general in midfield, Xavi set the tempo in Guardiola's Blaugrana outfit and, alongside Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets, dominated opponents. Between the start of the 2009/10 season and up to Guardiola's exit, Xavi never ended a league season with a pass success rate below 90% and his lowest passes per game average over the duration of the campaign was 83.9, which help the Spaniard to a WhoScored rating of 7.56.

Left midfield: Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich) - 7.85 rating

As so often became the case for Bayern Munich, it was the unstoppable wing duo of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery that helped Guardiola's side tear opponents to shreds down the flanks. Guardiola was unfortunate in that injuries restricted Ribery to just 50 league outings between 2013 and 2016, but the French winger managed to have a direct hand in 37 league goals in that time, which contributed to his WhoScored rating of 7.85.

Striker: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - 8.77 rating

With an unbelievable WhoScored rating of 8.77, Lionel Messi leads the way in Guardiola's best rated XI and understandably so. The Argentine's best rated campaign was Guardiola's final at the Camp Nou helm, where his average over the campaign was a remarkable 8.88. In that season, Messi netted 50 goals and registered 16 assists. All in all, from 2009/10 to Guardiola's exit, Messi bagged a remarkable 115 goals and provided 44 assists.

Striker: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) - 7.52 rating

The final player in this XI, Robert Lewandowski played under Guardiola in only two of his three seasons at the Allianz Arena helm, yet the Pole proved an astute capture from Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund and continues to excel in the Bundesliga. In his 63 appearances under the stewardship of Guardiola, Lewandowski had a direct hand in 54 goals, netting 47 times, to round off this team with a WhoScored rating of 7.52.