37 career trophies! including 18 with Manchester City, 14 with Barcelona, and 5 with Bayern Munich—Pep Guardiola is indeed the true definition of an iconic manager. Talk about dominating modern-day soccer, as the Spanish tactician, Guardiola, has truly changed the perception of the beautiful game. In fact, with a mere room for 12 trophies, he still has enough tank to overtake Sir Alex Ferguson’s record-breaking tally of 49 trophies. However, if he truly wishes to beat the record, then perhaps he might want to consider the exclusive suggestion USWNT star Olivia Moultrie shared with EssentiallySports (in collaboration with Red Bull).

Well, before we get into that, one shouldn’t be surprised to see how much of a fan the Portland Thorns midfielder is of the Spanish tactician. In fact, not just Pep; Olivia deeply admires his overall managerial philosophy and how successfully he has orchestrated all the teams he has been a part of. However, it wasn’t Guardiola’s first stint at Barcelona that made the USWNT starlet a fan of the 54-year-old.  

“When MSN was at Barca, that was what I was watching all the time. That was like, dang, this is dream soccer. I was really sad when that was over,” Moultrie told host Andrew Whitelaw on the EssentiallySports exclusive when asked which European team she liked the most. Usually, it’s Guardiola’s 2008 to 2012 period at Camp Nou that has made everyone his fan.

Like the time Jamie Carragher said, “This is the greatest team I have ever seen,” while describing Pep Guardiola-led FC Barcelona as the greatest domestic team of all time. But surprisingly, in Moultrie’s case, it is the successful Premier League domination that has drawn her more towards the former Spanish midfielder turned coach.

“Then I kind of gravitated towards Man City and watching them build all the way to then winning the treble. They’re having a little bit of a rough go this year. But Man City has definitely been a team that I’ve watched a lot recently,” added Olivia, who began her professional journey aged 13.

Again, not surprising, considering the achievements that have been kept following the manager wherever he has gone. Sadly, the current season has witnessed the Sky Blues in their worst form under Pep. Yet, that still doesn’t deny the fact of what he has done for the English giants. In fact, when it comes to overall perspective, Moultrie’s preference is set. “All of Pep’s teams are something that I’m aspiring to,” she added.

In fact, the rising NWSL star looks up to the Catalan boss so much that she even has an interesting proposition for him. “Pep Guardiola, if you want to come coach me ever or if I can come watch you for as long as possible, I’d love to do that!” she concluded in the EssentiallySports exclusive.

We don’t know about you, but to us, it sounds like Moultrie wants Guardiola to one day coach in the women’s game. And if the former Bavarian boss hypothetically does so, Moultrie already seems to have made her reservations. Why wouldn’t she? After all, it’s Pep Guardiola, ladies and gentlemen.

When a great talent like Neymar Jr. can regret not having the chance to play under the very boss who left Barcelona a year before his arrival, it’s no surprise that Moultrie also looks forward to this opportunity. For now, Guardiola doesn’t seem to have any plans to join the women’s game, leaving Olivia to embrace the next best thing—a coach whose style closely mirrors what Pep offers!

Olivia Moultrie embraces Pep Guardiola-style game under Emma Hayes

In the same interview, Olivia Moultrie subtly ended up revealing the second closest thing to Pep Guardiola in the women’s game. The answer is of course none other than Emma Hayes. Sure, the success that the English tactician has achieved over the years surely keeps her in her own league. Then again, her success is still a lot reminiscent of the men’s games, according to the Portland Thorns star.

“She made a big impression,” said Moultrie. “I feel like she’s bringing a lot of what has made [the women’s game] successful, entertaining, and fun to watch—the best game we think of, like Barca’s Tiki Taka [or] Man City—she’s bringing those aspects to the women’s game, and now to the WNT.”

Well, 16 trophies over a 12-year tenure at Chelsea, followed by winning her first international title in just 81 days, certainly proves Olivia’s point. Either way, until we actually see Pep Guardiola in the women’s game, we might as well enjoy a similar phenom in the meantime!