'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Philipp Lahm
Pep Guardiola has coached some of the most technically astute and gifted players in his managerial career. But there were only a few who were in the same bracket as Germany's iconic right-back Philipp Lahm. His ability to read the game was magical and that is a strong enough reason why the two bonded beautifully.
The defender could have linked up with the Spaniard earlier than they did, with rumors suggesting Lahm could have left for Manchester United or Barcelona in 2008. Lahm and Arjen Robben wreaked havoc on the right flank under Pep Guardiola. Their positional sense and awareness of backing each other was top quality.
The Germany international captained Bayern Munich to their treble-winning season, which consisted of a Champions League, Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal in 2013. It was after this that Pep Guardiola took over. However, his three-year spell ended with no Champions League title, but two Bundesliga and two DFB-Pokals.
When the World Cup winner retired in 2017, Pep Guardiola expressed his admiration for Lahm. The right-back was known for his kind nature off the pitch as he helped his Spanish boss settle with the German giants.
The Spanish boss referred to him once as the most intelligent player he had ever coached. Pep Guardiola utilized Lahm in the midfield role as well, and that added another dimension to the versatile player's game. The defender ended his career with a grand total of 22 trophies.
#2 Dani Alves
The most decorated footballer in the history of the game had to play for Pep Guardiola, it would have seemed very odd otherwise. Dani Alves has no end to his winning streak and keeps on adding medals and trophies to his name. The 38-year old went with the Brazil squad to the Tokyo Olympics and added the 43rd title of his career.
The Brazilian right-back was one of the first signings made by Pep Guardiola at Barcelona in 2008. The player's performances with his former team Sevilla cleared all the doubts there were regarding his recruitment. Alves was phenomenal going forward and would easily make the cut for one of the best fullbacks of all-time in the game.
Under Pep Guardiola's reign, the Brazilian was allowed the freedom to join in the attacking third. His stats speak for the effectiveness of his attacking game. In four seasons under the Spaniard, Alves scored 12 goals in La Liga and provided 49 assists for Barcelona.
In total, the Brazilian made 391 appearances for Barcelona and provided an abundant 101 assists. He cheerfully remarked in a documentary made on Pep Guardiola's Barca, called, "Take the ball, pass the ball" that playing under the Spanish manager was "better than sex". Never change Dani, ever!
#1 Carles Puyol
Was there ever any doubt about this? Captain fantastic Carles Puyol tops the list of five greatest defenders to play under Pep Guardiola. The boss, who was himself the captain of the Barcelona side for four years starting in 1997, waxed lyricals of Puyol's immaculate leadership.
The Spaniard captained the team for almost a decade, the longest serving Barca captain ever since 2004. Under his leadership, Barca's defense, which consisted of the likes of Abidal and Dani Alves, was as tight as ever. The captain had a contagious winning attitude that gave character to his Barcelona side.
Puyol had been a teammate of Pep Guardiola around the turn of the century. As such, their chemistry was supremely effective on the pitch for Barcelona as coach and captain. One of the biggest highlights of the Catalan defender will be his performances with the Spanish team in the 2010 World Cup triumph.
The team conceded only two goals in the whole tournament and Puyol delivered a masterclass in defending one game after the other. He was a larger than life figure and he proved it with a class act in 2011 after Barcelona won their second Champions League under Pep Guardiola.
Puyol, who was himself brought in as the substitute towards the dying minutes of the game, gave his armbad to Eric Abidal. This ensured that the trophy first graced the hands of Abidal. The Frenchman had just recovered from a liver tumor and this was a fantastic gesture from the captain. In his illustrious career Puyol has won 25 trophies in total of which 14 came during Pep Guardiola's reign.
