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Guardiola was rejected by Premier League club because they had Bullard

talksport.com, 16 January 2025, 18:57
Before Pep Guardiola became one of the greatest managers in Premier League history, he could have been one of the league's most forgettable midfielders.

The now legendary Manchester City boss had a similarly iconic career, playing for his beloved Barcelona for 11 years alongside greats like Ronaldo Nazario, Luis Figo and Romario.

He won LaLiga six times, the Copa del Rey twice, and even a Champions League in 1992 when it was then called the European Cup.

In 2001 he left Catalunya for the first time and went on a journey that saw him learn the game to a level where he became one of its most feared coaches.

From Brescia, to Roma, to Qatari club Al Ahli, Guardiola was picking up skills along the way, and almost landed in England.

Reflecting on his 2005 departure from Qatar, which would be the final switch of his career, he revealed that the Premier League was his intended destination, with a surprise newly-promoted side - Wigan Athletic.

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However, aged 34 at the time, the Latics said no, with Guardiola honestly revealing why.

"I was not good enough, that is the truth. I was old, really old!" he said.

"I knocked on the door, I tried to come here to play in English football, but I was not able.

"The same happened here at Manchester City, when I came here with Stuart Pearce. They were so clever! I was not good enough."

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At the time, Guardiola would have been directly competing for a spot with Jimmy Bullard, who played alongside Graham Kavanagh and Gary Teale in the centre of midfield.

Bullard, a now much-loved pundit, was midway through his career where he became a solid Premier League regular, meaning Guardiola would've had little chance of getting in the team.

Their manager at the time, Paul Jewell, seemingly made the right decision to turn down Guardiola as Wigan would finish tenth in their first Premier League campaign and stay in the top flight for another seven seasons.

The Spaniard, meanwhile, instead took his services to Dorados de Sinaloa in Mexico for half a season before retiring.

That decision did further his career though, as he was inspired by the team's head coach, Juanma Lillo, who now sits beside him as his assistant at the Etihad Stadium.

Whether Jewell could've ended up there too is anyone's guess.

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