Credit: Imago

Scott Mason

Sat 23 May 2026 7:10, UK

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke will be delighted to see Pep Guardiola head into the sunset as he ends his 10-year spell at Manchester City.

The German has not often been around to face the Spaniard, as he has spent multiple years in the Championship with both Norwich and Leeds United.

However, he has still had his moments to lock horns against one of the best managers that football has unearthed.

His last match against Guardiola’s Manchester City did unfortunately end in a narrow 1-0 loss, and he will not get the chance to avenge that result.

But ahead of Leeds’ 2026-2027 campaign, while Guardiola’s exit will delight, there is another reason for optimism as well.

What is Daniel Farke’s record against Pep Guardiola?

Guardiola’s Premier League tenure is officially over as he has confirmed this Sunday is his last for Manchester City.

For many managers, that will bring a sigh of relief, and the same can be said for Leeds boss Farke.

Here is the cleaned-up table with only the requested columns:

Farke has faced Guardiola on five occasions throughout his career, and as you may expect, he does not have the greatest of records.

He has won just once and lost the other four. That sole win arrived in his first-ever game against the Spaniard, as his Norwich side in 2019 secured a 3-2 win at Carrow Road.

As a newly promoted team, it was a famous win for the Canaries and one that will likely be remembered fondly.

However, first, attention turns to West Ham, with Leeds still facing multiple injuries ahead of Sunday’s clash.

Daniel Farke will look forward to facing Enzo Maresca at Manchester City

If the various reports are to be believed, Enzo Maresca will take over the helm of Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium.

For Farke, that will be music to his ears, as, unlike Guardiola, he often gets the better of the Italian manager.

In the fixtures against Maresca, Farke has won all three of them. Over those matches, he comes away with a total aggregate score of 7-2.

The record is particularly intriguing considering that Maresca’s style of play is quite similar to the Spaniard’s, as both enjoy a dominant possession-based style. However, Farke has managed to find and exploit weaknesses in the 46-year-old’s philosophy.

Of course, Maresca will have more resources and higher-quality players than he did during his time at Leicester and Chelsea, making it another new challenge for Farke.

So while Guardiola leaving will delight the German, the arrival of Maresca is another reason that could bring joy as well.