Top 10 teenagers with most league minutes played under Pep Guardiola; Phil Foden, Kingsley Coman & more

Guardiola has nurtured many top teenagers during his managerial career.

Playing under Pep Guardiola has been many young players’ ambitions in football. One surely gets to learn a lot from one of the best managers in football. Over the years we have seen how Guardiola has revolutionised football. He has turned the teams he managed into the most entertaining sides.

Many players who played under him have become some of the best players. We have seen that being the case with Lionel Messi, Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland. But which teenager has played the most minutes under Guardiola? Let’s find out.

10. Kelechi Iheanacho: 185 minutes

The Manchester City academy player was once one of the top players Pep Guardiola praised. Throughout Kelechi Iheanacho’s time working with the former Barcelona manager, Iheanacho’s form was frequently lauded by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.

But things never worked out for the player. Iheanacho was later traded to Leicester City since he was unable to establish himself at Man City.

9. Gabriel Jesus: 203 minutes

Before joining Arsenal, the Brazil international spent five years playing at the Etihad Stadium under Guardiola. Jesus left Palmeiras to join City in January 2017. During his time in Manchester, he won 11 championships.

By the end of his Manchester City career, Jesus did not feel appreciated by his manager, despite being a valuable team member and big game performer.

8. Thiago Alcantara: 330 minutes

Guardiola gave Thiago Alcantara his Barcelona first-team debut. Current Manchester City’s manager chose him above others to join Bayern during his time at the German club. At the Allianz Arena, the two shared seven major titles over the course of three seasons.

But the former football player managed to play only 330 minutes under Guardiola.

7. Gianluca Gaudino: 372 minutes

Gaudino was a young graduate of the academy of Bayern Munich. After making an impression on Pep Guardiola, he was promoted to the first team for the 2014–15 campaign, but he eventually failed to make an impact in the starting lineup.

The long-haired midfielder was regarded as a tremendous talent at the age of 17 at the time. It was, however, the height of his career, since Gaudino never lived up to expectations. He saw just 372 minutes of action while playing for Guardiola.

6. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg: 565 minutes

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg had a top-notch football education during his two-and-a-half years at Bayern Munich. He was coached by Pep Guardiola for the last 18 months of his career.

He has proven to possess the exceptional technical skill and leadership that have garnered him such high praise throughout his career, particularly from Pep Guardiola, the most well-known manager under whom he played 565 minutes.

5. Phil Foden: 729 minutes

The England midfielder, Phil Foden, has the backing of Pep Guardiola to become one of Manchester City’s greatest-ever players. The talented forward is so gifted that the Spanish manager never runs out of things to say about him. In fact, Guardiola called Phil Foden the “most talented player” he had ever seen in his coaching career.

4. Eric Garcia: 990 minutes

Eric Garcia got the chance to play under the former Barcelona manager. The centre-back was City’s academy player. He was nurtured by Guardiola during his three years at the club. He never lived up to the hopes of the manager and was eventually sold to Barcelona.

Garcia was on loan at Girona last season. He hopes to turn things around as Barca will expect the centre-back to gain more experience.

3. Bojan: 1,686 minutes

Many players never had a good relationship with Pep Guardiola and Bojan was one of them. He was seen as one of the brightest players at Barcelona but he never reached his peak. Despite playing 1,686 minutes under him the forward was always seen as a surplus to requirement

He was eventually sold. For the rest of his playing career, Bojan frequently changed teams and never established himself at a single club.

2. Kingsley Coman: 1,688 minutes

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has been named by Kingsley Coman as the coach who has had the largest impact on his career. The former Barcelona coach provided the forward with ideal nurturing during Coman’s formative years.

Coman flourished under him, establishing himself as one of Bayern’s most valuable players and contributing significantly to the team under the former head coach, playing 1,688 minutes.

1. Rico Lewis: 1,800 minutes

Rico Lewis seems to have become a favourite player under Guardiola. The teenage full-back has appeared in most league minutes under the Spanish manager.

Lewis, who has appeared in every game for Guardiola this season, starred in City’s 3-1 win over West Ham before the international break. He additionally featured the length of England’s win over Finland. The 19-year-old has so far covered for Kyle Walker when he has been out. Guardiola is optimistic that his recent performance will benefit the Cityzens once the Champions League league phase begins.

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