Footballers Who Played for Both Guardiola and Klopp

The rivalry between Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola is one of the most captivating storylines in modern football. These two tactical masterminds have redefined attacking football and their battles on the touchline have consistently produced high-octane encounters. But for a select few players, the battle lines have been blurred.

Here, iLOTBET delve into five footballers who have had the unique experience of playing under both Klopp and Guardiola.

1. Mario Gotze

Mario Gotze’s career trajectory has been a rollercoaster. Under Klopp at Borussia Dortmund, he blossomed into a generational talent, scoring 31 goals and registering 45 assists in just 116 games. They lifted the Bundesliga title twice and the DFB Pokal once. However, his move to Bayern Munich under Guardiola proved challenging. Gotze later admitted to struggling with Guardiola’s communication style, highlighting the contrasting approaches of the two managers.

“Pep Guardiola was technically one of the best coaches, [playing under him was a] tremendous enrichment. But I had the feeling that he thinks only on the pitch and leaves out the people and the outside. The empathy was not that big. It was not easy for me, just because I came from Kloppo, who was like a footballing father. Pep was the complete difference. A world-class coach needs empathy, every athlete is also human and should combine both [tactics and empathy].”

2. Xherdan Shaqiri

Xherdan Shaqiri enjoyed trophy success at Bayern Munich under Guardiola, winning four titles. However, his playing time was limited, and he later expressed his preference for a more communicative style of management, hinting at Guardiola’s focus on tactics over individual relationships. At Liverpool, in the English Premier League, under Klopp, Shaqiri found his niche as an impact substitute, contributing eight goals and nine assists in 63 appearances. He thrived under Klopp’s more empathetic approach, winning four trophies as a valuable squad member.

“He is a very good coach in terms of what happens on the pitch, but his communication was not so good to me. Guardiola doesn’t talk too much about this [leaving players out]. He doesn’t say to the players why. Of course, sometimes that’s difficult for a player, especially when you are working well and training well – and especially when he speaks around the media and says ‘He is good. He is the best player.’”

3. Thiago Alcantara

Thiago Alcantara has experienced the best of both worlds. He was part of Guardiola’s historic Barcelona side, winning a staggering 17 trophies. He later reunited with Guardiola at Bayern Munich. Thiago openly admires Guardiola’s coaching methods, praising his ability to motivate players during setbacks. While injuries have hampered his time at Liverpool under Klopp, he has still added four trophies to his cabinet, showcasing his versatility under both managers.

4. Ilkay Gundogan

Ilkay Gundogan blossomed into a world-class central midfielder under Guardiola at Manchester City. His composure, control, and goalscoring threat were instrumental in City’s 2023 treble. He scored over 100 goals and assists under Guardiola, exceeding his time with Klopp at Borussia Dortmund, where he won three trophies and reached the 2013 UEFA Champions League final. Guardiola’s tactical system seems to have unlocked Gundogan’s full potential.

“Pep has such a big charisma that you automatically try your best when you’re out on the training field. When you’re not 100% he’s able to wake you up quickly.”

5. Robert Lewandowski

Robert Lewandowski remains a force of nature. He thrived under Klopp at Borussia Dortmund, scoring 102 goals in 186 appearances, winning four trophies. Though his time with Guardiola at Bayern Munich was shorter (two years), he still netted 67 goals and lifted three trophies. Lewandowski has publicly acknowledged the impact of both managers, highlighting Guardiola’s ability to elevate players.

“In my opinion, Pep Guardiola makes almost every player better, so everyone can consider himself lucky to train under him.”