Few venues in world football carry as much personal weight for Pep Guardiola as Wembley Stadium. The Manchester City manager recently named his three favourite trophies won at the famous London ground — and the answer speaks volumes about a career built on historic, beautiful football.
“My favourite trophy at Wembley? 1992, first Champions League with Barcelona, and 2011 with Barcelona vs Manchester United. And the FA Cup vs Manchester United also.”— Pep Guardiola
A three-decade love affair with Wembley
Guardiola’s connection to Wembley is unique among elite managers: he has won there as both a player and a coach, across three different competitions, with two different clubs. Here is the story behind each of his three chosen memories.
20 May 1992 — European Cup Final
Barcelona 1–0 Sampdoria — Johan Cruyff’s “Dream Team”
Guardiola was a 21-year-old midfielder in Cruyff’s legendary Barcelona side when Ronald Koeman’s free kick settled the final against Sampdoria. It was Barcelona’s first ever European Cup title, and for Guardiola — then a disciple of Cruyff’s total football philosophy — it was a formative moment that would shape everything he would later build as a manager.
28 May 2011 — UEFA Champions League Final
Barcelona 3–1 Manchester United — the performance of a generation
As Barcelona’s manager, Guardiola oversaw what Sir Alex Ferguson described as the best team he had ever faced. Goals from Pedro, Lionel Messi and David Villa dismantled United before a crowd of 87,695. The occasion was made even more special when captain Carles Puyol handed the trophy lift to Éric Abidal, who had recently recovered from surgery. Guardiola later described the second-half display as something he would “never forget.”
3 June 2023 — FA Cup Final
Manchester City 2–1 Manchester United — the Treble season
Guardiola’s City beat their city rivals to complete the domestic double on the way to an historic Treble — Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season. Ilkay Gündogan scored twice, including a goal inside the first minute, to seal a trophy that Guardiola has specifically cited among his Wembley favourites.