Wayne Rooney has now identified the difference-maker in the heated debate around Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.
Pep Guardiola is expected to end his decade-long reign at Manchester City in the summer after his huge impact on English football post-Sir Alex Ferguson.
Man City missed out on the Premier League title to Arsenal in the 2025-26 season, but the 55-year-old Spaniard did lift both the League Cup and the FA Cup trophies.
Guardiola’s rumoured departure from Man City sparked a powerful reaction from Manchester United fans as well after his success at the Etihad since 2016.
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Wayne Rooney on the managerial careers of Man Utd icon Sir Alex Ferguson and Man City manager Pep Guardiola
Sir Alex Ferguson did cross paths with Pep Guardiola and the latter inflicted two Champions League final defeats on Manchester United when he was at Barcelona.
The 84-year-old iconic former United manager bowed out of Old Trafford back in 2013, which marked the end of Ferguson’s incredible 26-year reign at the club.
Speaking on his podcast, Wayne Rooney was asked how Ferguson and Guardiola’s styles would have compared if they were in the Premier League at the same time.
“Yeah, it’s different styles, different generations, if you like,” he said on BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show.
“Football has changed and Pep’s obviously been, you know, the major part in that, why it’s changed in England.”
United legend Rooney then admitted that he was in awe at Ferguson’s remarkable longevity at one club amid the debate around the Scotsman and Guardiola.
“It was interesting because this morning. I’ve been looking at, you know, people saying how loyal he’s [Guardiola] been 10 years, which is incredible,” he added.
“Alex Ferguson, 26 years.”
Rooney continued: “No, no, I just think, I just think when you actually think of that amount of time, 26 years at one football club, it’s absolutely astonishing.
“And, you know, and how difficult that is to do and maintain your hunger and that mentality, whatever.
“So, for me, Fergie is the best, but Pep, in my opinion, in this generation, in his era, is definitely the best.”
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Wayne Rooney on his admiration for what Pep Guardiola has achieved, despite backing Sir Alex Ferguson in the debate
Guardiola is considered one of the best managers of all time after his impact with City in England, Barcelona in Spain and Bayern Munich in Germany.
Rooney showered praise on the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager and admitted that he would have taken pride in playing under City boss Guardiola.
“And I have a huge, I said it on BBC, on Match of the Day, at the final the other day, I said I would have loved to have played for him at Barcelona or Bayern Munich, certainly not at Man City,” he explained.
“Yeah, as Micah [Richards] was saying, but I would have loved to have played under him and just see how he works and tactically how he’s thinking about the game and stuff and really tap into his mind that way.
“Unfortunately, that’s not the case, but yeah, I think he’s been a breath of fresh air.”
Ferguson, who is regarded as one of the best managers of all time, lifted 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies before his retirement in 2013.
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