Manchester City managerial history has progressed and evolved, just like the stature of club. When we talk about football clubs in Manchester, the culture usually gets divided between red and blue. Manchester United have been deemed to be the successful Manchester club. Manchester City had its intermittent success back then, which slowly transformed into them being modern-day football champions.
Manchester City experienced their first success under Tom Maley in 1904, with their first FA Cup. City's consistent success period continued in the late 1960s and early 1970s, led by Joe Mercer and his assistant manager. Robert Mancini, who led the team to their first Premier League title in 2011-12. This success continued under Manuel Pellegrini, with another Premier League title and two FA Cups.
If we talk about who is the best Man City manager, undoubtedly, it has to be Pep Guardiola. His inclusion of possession-based play had transformed the club into its rapid success, in terms of titles and trophies, including FA Cups, League Cups, Premier League titles, and their first-ever UEFA Champions League title in 2023. It is Guardiola's tactical brilliance that has cemented Manchester City in glory. Let us have a look at the Man City managers list, history, coaching staff, and who is the best Manchester City football manager.
Current Man City Manager: Pep Guardiola
If asked, who is the best Manchester City football club manager? Undoubtedly, it would be Josep ‘Pep’ Guardiola Sala, this 54-year-old tactician, who gave the club a revolutionary philosophy born in the richness of his playing days and even richer managerial career.
Guardiola's playing days saw him dictate matters from the centre of the pitch as a defensive midfielder while carrying out one of his most important acts under Johan Cruyff's iconic "Dream Team" at FC Barcelona, with whom he won Barcelona's very first European Cup in 1992, alongside several La Liga titles. This grounding in Cruyff's total football laid the foundation for his brand of possession-based football.
Pep Guardiola was formerly the head coach of FC Barcelona (2008-12) and FC Bayern (2013-16). A four-year trophy spell at Barcelona and three consecutive Bundesliga titles with Bayern had already established him as one of the best football managers in the world.
With Pep Guardiola's arrival at Manchester City, it has been nothing less than the golden period of Man City FC. The first season of Guardiola with Man City went trophyless, but following that, six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, and Man City's maiden Champions League title in the 2023-24 season. This unprecedented success cemented Manchester City as one of the best football clubs in the world, and Guardiola, the best Manchester City manager. The 2024-25 season was flawed, as the Blues only managed to win the Community Shield and lost the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace.