Former Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan has hailed Pep Guardiola for having the biggest influence on his career, stating that the Spaniard gave him “everything” he wanted in football.
The German midfielder, who left City earlier this month to join his boyhood club Galatasaray, recently reflected on his eight years working under Guardiola.
During this time, Gundogan won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League, while also captaining City through their famous treble-winning season in 2022-23.
Gundogan on Guardiola’s impact
“It was amazing. I would say it's more than just a manager-player relationship. It's more than that,” Gundogan said of his dynamic with Guardiola.
“He gave me everything that I wanted in football, I've learned so much.
“He had such a big impact also on my career, and I think without him that what I've achieved, what we have achieved, would not have been possible.
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“I think every single player that played under him, especially in the era of Manchester City, will probably say the same.
“We are all very grateful, and we feel privileged that we had the opportunity to work with the best.”
Gundogan was Guardiola’s very first signing after arriving at the Etihad in 2016, and the 34-year-old went on to make 358 appearances across his two spells at the club, with only Ederson, Kevin de Bruyne, and Bernardo Silva featuring more times.
In total, he managed an impressive 65 goals and 44 assists during his time in Manchester.
Gundogan bid an emotional farewell to City fans after captaining the club to a treble in 2023, but he returned after just one season in Barcelona.
Memories 🥹
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 16, 2025
Ilkay Gundogan returned to the Ataturk Stadium, where he captained us to our iconic Treble, for one final interview 🩵
This time, though, the farewell is permanent as he has completed a move to Galatasaray, the club of his childhood and one that carries strong personal ties to his Turkish heritage.
Speaking from Istanbul’s Ataturk Stadium – the same venue where City lifted the Champions League trophy in 2023 – Gundogan admitted his exit carried mixed emotions.
“Obviously, being at the club for a total of eight years, collecting many memories - mostly beautiful ones and successful ones - but then also joining my childhood club, the club that I supported since I was a little boy and my whole family supports this club,” he said.
“Coming back to our home country, it's something that I'm really looking forward to and that makes me really happy.”
At 34, Gundogan has likely entered the final chapter of his career, but his words underline just how central Guardiola was to the story he has already written in Manchester.
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