Mikel Arteta knows exactly who tops his list of the greatest managers of all time. The Arsenal boss named Pep Guardiola as the greatest manager in football history, emphasizing not only his trophies but also the influence he has had on the modern game.

“I think he is the best manager in history,” Arteta said when asked about Guardiola and the legacy he left during his time in charge of Manchester City.

Arteta’s opinion carries particular weight because he knows Guardiola’s methods firsthand. The Spaniard worked alongside Guardiola at Manchester City for four years before beginning his career as a head coach and eventually taking charge of Arsenal.

During that period, Arteta gained a close understanding of Guardiola’s football philosophy, his demands and his approach to preparing for matches. For the Arsenal manager, Guardiola’s impact goes far beyond the trophies he won with City.

Arteta believes Guardiola forced other Premier League coaches to evolve and find new ways to compete.

“He has made all the coaches and their teams work in a different way. He has made all of us better,” Arteta explained.

The admiration is also connected to how difficult it was to compete against Manchester City during Guardiola’s reign. For Arteta, facing one of the most dominant teams in Premier League history significantly raised the level of competition.

Now, with Guardiola no longer on the City bench and Enzo Maresca taking charge in Manchester, the rivalry between the two clubs is entering a new chapter. Arteta, however, expects City to remain one of the major forces in English football.

The Arsenal manager also spoke positively about Maresca and his ability to handle one of the biggest jobs in European football.

Even though Guardiola is no longer on the Manchester City touchline, his influence remains. For Arteta, his legacy is not measured solely by trophies, but also by the way he changed how football is understood and played.

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