Which cars has Pep Guardiola owned? From his first car to his current fleet

What do FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City have in common? They are the three clubs with which Pep Guardiola has secured 28 trophies in just 12 years as a manager. This remarkable trajectory makes Guardiola one of the most successful coaches of the 21st century. However, his prowess on the field does not translate to the driver's seat. Unlike his tactical genius in football, Guardiola has developed a reputation for being accident-prone when it comes to luxury vehicles.

According to revelations from the book Pep’s City: The Making of a Superteam by Spanish journalists Lu Martín and Pol Ballús, Guardiola has crashed or damaged four high-end cars since moving to Manchester in 2016. These vehicles, which include models from Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Bentley, and Land Rover, have an estimated combined value of $600,000.

A History of Costly Mishaps

One of Guardiola’s most notable driving blunders involved a Range Rover. The Spanish manager mistakenly filled the diesel-powered SUV with gasoline at a self-service fuel station, causing significant damage to the engine. This common mistake, affecting approximately 72,000 motorists annually in Spain according to the Real Automóvil Club de España, can have serious consequences if not detected in time. Unfortunately for Guardiola, he failed to notice the telltale engine issues caused by the mix-up, which ultimately led to extensive repairs.

But the Range Rover was just one in a series of luxury cars that suffered under Guardiola’s ownership. Another casualty was a Mercedes-Benz GLE 250 d, a sleek and powerful black SUV. While specific details of its damage remain undisclosed, British newspaper The Sun reported that Guardiola paid around $105,000 for the vehicle, only to see it join the list of his automotive misfortunes.

The third victim of his unlucky driving streak was a Bentley GTX 700. This high-performance coupe, valued at over $220,000, features a W12 engine that was tuned by Onyx to boost its power from 575 to 700 horsepower. Guardiola’s model, a silver-grey variant, combined elegance with raw power. However, its impressive specifications could not prevent it from being damaged under his ownership.

Finally, a Mini Cooper also met an unfortunate fate while in Guardiola’s hands. Although significantly less expensive than his other vehicles, the Mini was another testament to his struggles behind the wheel. The repeated accidents and vehicle mishaps led the book’s authors to humorously remark that “his rearview mirrors never last long.”

A New Beginning with Nissan

Despite his track record of wrecking expensive cars, Guardiola continues to receive new vehicles thanks to his position as a Nissan ambassador. As part of Manchester City’s sponsorship deal with the Japanese automotive giant, the Spanish manager has been gifted several brand-new cars, including his latest model—the Nissan Ariya. Guardiola even starred in a promotional campaign for the electric SUV when it was launched in mid-2022.

This partnership with Nissan marks a shift for Guardiola, potentially steering him away from his previous high-performance vehicles in favor of a more sustainable and tech-focused option. The Ariya, an all-electric SUV, is designed for efficiency and ease of use—qualities that might suit Guardiola better than the powerful, complex machines he has struggled with in the past.

The Next Victim?

With a track record of four wrecked cars and a tendency for automotive mishaps, one can’t help but wonder whether his Nissan Ariya will also suffer the same fate. While Guardiola remains one of football’s greatest minds, his driving skills tell a very different story. As Pep’s City reveals, the man who meticulously plans every pass and formation on the field seems to lose his sense of control once he gets behind the wheel. Time will tell if his new electric SUV can break the cycle or if it will be the next casualty in Guardiola’s unlucky history with cars.