Alan Shearer Exclusive: Pep Guardiola may be the best manager we have ever seen

Pep one of the greatest the Premier League has ever seen

The news has broken that Pep Guardiola looks set to leave Manchester City at the end of the season and I'm not entirely surprised, there have been one or two rumours circulating for a while. 

What a man, what a manager. He's brought huge, huge success to Manchester City in his own way, in his own style. I know he's had incredible wealth behind it but there's one thing having that and it's another delivering, and that's exactly what he's done. 

He's a lovely guy, certainly down to earth, he's always been very amicable, very open and always willing to have a conversation.

He's delivered trophy after trophy after trophy, and his teams have been incredible to watch.

He's been one of the best, if not the best we've ever seen. We didn't think anyone would get near Sir Alex Ferguson, but he has without a doubt, and some will argue that he's even better. 

He's done it in a really tough era where lots of teams have had so much money to spend, but year after year he has delivered what the Man City fans wanted.

He's impacted all levels of the beautiful game

He has impacted English football wider than the Premier League, even when you look at the lower leagues and the number of coaches that are trying to play in his way, in terms of getting the ball out from the back and playing through the lines. Managers and coaches up and down the leagues have tried to copy his style of play.

I just think, to have won four on the bounce, and to have won the Champions League, then to go again and again when everyone knows what you're trying to do, to have that hunger and desire to go again when you've been successful and to try and better it, that's what's stood out for me.

You can see, even on the touchline in the last few games, he's still driven, still going crazy when he doesn't get a decision or one of his players doesn't do what he wants them to do, you can see what it still means to him.

A different challenge awaits Guardiola

What next for Pep Guardiola after City? A rest! I think it will be similar to what we've seen in the past, he might rest for a year and then come back reenergised and go again.

I could see him managing an international team, I'm not going to say it's less pressure but maybe it won't be as intense, it will be a different challenge for him. 

Following him will be tough for whoever's next at City

If you believe the rumours then Maresca is ready to walk in there at Man City after Pep. Good luck, it will be an incredibly difficult job, we've seen over the years how tough it is to follow a great manager, and Pep is one of the greatest.

It might give everyone else a chance now, but I'll be sad to see him leave because without a doubt he has been incredible for the Premier League.

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