Gündoğan Thanks Guardiola: “He Gave Me Everything in Football”

The former Manchester City captain, Ilkay Gündogan, has expressed his gratitude towards Pep Guardiola, acknowledging the significant impact he had on his football career. The German midfielder, who recently joined Galatasaray, highlighted Guardiola’s influence on his professional development. Gündogan, who arrived at City in 2016, has achieved great success under Guardiola’s management.

A Legacy of Success

During his eight seasons at Manchester City, Gündogan won five Premier League titles and the Champions League. He was Guardiola’s first signing at the club and led the team in the historic treble-winning season in 2023. The player also won the FA Cup twice and the League Cup four times.

He gave me everything I wanted in football, I have learned a lot. He had a great impact on my career and I think that without him what I have achieved, what we have achieved, would not have been possible.

Ilkay Gündogan

Gündoğan, referring to his relationship with Guardiola, described it as more than a simple coach-player relationship, highlighting the privilege of having worked with the one he considers the best. The German midfielder scored 65 goals in 358 games for City.

His departure from the club came at a time when City were looking to revamp their squad after a less successful campaign in 2024-25. Gündogan, with Turkish roots, found in Galatasaray the opportunity to close his career in a club with a special meaning. In an interview conducted at Istanbul’s Ataturk Stadium, the scene of City’s Champions League victory two years ago, Gündoğan expressed his mixed feelings.

I have mixed emotions, to be honest. Obviously, being at the club for a total of eight years, collecting many memories, mostly beautiful and successful, but also joining my childhood club, the club I supported since I was a child and that my whole family supports.

Ilkay Gündogan