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The Athletic FC Podcast

The Athletic FC Podcast

What If… Guardiola never became a manager?

Aug 30, 2026 · 43m

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On this episode

About this episode

Welcome to the first episode of a new series on The Athletic FC Podcast: What If… Every week, host Emma Paton will be joined by a selection of The Athletic’s writers to dive into monumental sliding doors moments in football’s recent history. From Roman Abramovich’s interest in Spurs before buying Chelsea, to how the career of Brazil's Ronaldo might look if he had avoided serious injury. On episode one, Tim Spiers and Jon Mackenzie are on the panel to discuss Pep Guardiola’s alternative timeline had he not become a manager, or never joined Barcelona. What would happen to Lionel Messi, Man City, Erling Haaland and the Premier League in general? Tune in to find out. Host: Emma Paton Guests:…