Pep Guardiola has revealed that Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson contacted him following the announcement of his departure from Manchester City. After a decade of unprecedented success at the Etihad, Guardiola will step down at the end of the season, closing one of the most significant chapters in Premier League history.
Guardiola's Legacy at City
During his tenure, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager secured 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League crown—a record few can match. Ferguson, who retired from management in 2013, had previously met Guardiola in 2012 during his sabbatical to persuade him to take over at Old Trafford.
Instead, Guardiola chose Bayern Munich before arriving at Manchester City in 2016. The two managers faced off in Champions League finals in 2009 and 2011, with Guardiola's Barcelona side defeating United on both occasions.
Ferguson's Message
Speaking at his final press conference on Friday, Guardiola shared: 'I know I had incredible success during my time as the manager and it is nice to be there. One of the biggest compliments I had—I got a message from Sir Alex Ferguson yesterday, two days ago, and that made me so happy.'
Guardiola added: 'He is the greatest in this country—the tenure, the time, and for many reasons. I'm happy that Sir Alex Ferguson, the greatest, could see... I'm pretty sure to Sir Alex we are not the noisy neighbours, we are just the neighbours. And I'm happy that he has been watching.'
Ferguson, now 84, has been a regular at Old Trafford since retiring. Earlier this month, he was taken to hospital for precautionary medical attention before the Premier League match against Liverpool.
