The revered Catalan coach, who has been Man City boss since 2016 and previously enjoyed huge success with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, has managed some of the greatest footballers of recent generations over the course of his illustrious managerial career.
Guardiola has been fortunate to coach the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Robert Lewandowski, Manuel Neuer, Kevin De Bruyne, Thierry Henry and many more. He knows a top-quality player when he sees one.
Pep’s a Huge Fan of Man Utd Player
Pep was present at the 7,000-capacity Joie Stadium earlier this week to witness Manchester City’s youngsters defeat rivals United 2-1 in the FA Youth Cup final.
Several United stars were also in attendance, including Luke Shaw, who Guardiola revealed is one of his personal favourite players.
“[Manchester] United always plays really good,” Guardiola said in his pre-FA Cup final press conference. “Happy to see, in the stands, Omar [Berrada], Jason Wilcox – the most important part in this club for the last decade, both of them.
“Jason, in the academy, did an incredible job. Omar, the right-hand of Ferran [Soriano], had been top and seeing top-class players from United, Bruno [Fernandes], Luke Shaw – one of my favourite players – Mason Mount, the manager Michael Carrick.”
Manchester United youth coach Darren Fletcher could now find himself in hot water with the Football Association
Luke Shaw’s Career
Premier League – Manchester United v AFC Bournemouth – Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain – December 15, 2025 Manchester United’s Luke Shaw in action REUTERS/Phil Noble
Shaw is United’s longest-serving player, having joined the Red Devils as an 18-year-old from Southampton in 2014. Touted as a potential new Gareth Bale as a teenager, Shaw has blown hot and cold throughout his long spell at Old Trafford.
Just one year after signing for Man Utd, Shaw suffered a horrendous double fracture of his right leg during a Champions League clash against PSV Eindhoven.
After many months on the sidelines, Shaw made a full recovery and has since made over 300 appearances for the Premier League giants.
Still only 30 years old, Shaw is hoping to seal a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
It was the 34-cap left-back who scored England’s goal against Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley five years ago.
While Shaw has had the backing of most managers he’s worked under, one coach who never appeared convinced was Guardiola’s long-time rival Jose Mourinho.
In 2017, following a 1-1 draw with Everton, Mourinho said of Shaw: “He was in front of me and I was making every decision for him. He has to change his football brain.”
Luke Shaw and Jose Mourinho
One year later, Shaw revealed: “I think he got frustrated with me because he knew I could do better. When I look back, maybe he was right.
“It was a tough few years but it made me stronger mentally. I wanted to prove to him I can do what he said I couldn’t.
“I had a chat with the manager before the season and he said he wanted me to stay.
“I’ve matured. You could say I’ve gone from a kid to a man. I know what I need to do to push myself. I want to play for Manchester United, stay there and prove my worth to the team.”
Eight years later and he remains a Manchester United player, earning admirers from those involved in football – including one of the greatest managers of all time in Pep.
With the 2026/27 season on the way, teams around the world have begun to unveil their new kits for the upcoming campaign, many of which are likely to go down in history as iconic designs associated with moments of brilliance.
Be it a title win, a trophy lift, continental qualification, or simply unexpected survival in a division, each shirt has a story to tell about a season come the end.
But while we wait for those stories to be written on the pitch, all we can do now is simply admire the kits for their design, and there are some good ones to eye up already.
So, with that said, here’s a look at the best kit designs for 2026/27 revealed so far.
10
Liverpool (Home)
Adidas/Liverpool 2026/27 kit
Liverpool‘s 2026/27 home kit is a throwback design inspired by the shirt the club wore from 1989 until 1991, which saw the Reds win the league title in 1989/90.
The Adidas design throws in similar patterns to that original kit, which it is well-remembered for alongside the Candy sponsorship, while it includes red and white trim around the collar, as well as the three strips on the shoulders that the kit manufacturers are well-known for.
It doesn’t quite nail the same aesthetic, but it gets relatively close, though there is no particular reason why that old design was chosen other than it being a relatively iconic look.
The new typeface on the back of the shirts does go well with the kit, however, and is certainly in with a shout of being among the top spots for the kits revealed so far.
9
Manchester United (Home)
Adidas/Manchester United
Manchester United will mark their return to the Champions League with a home kit that looks exactly how a United home kit should look.
The Adidas design comes with the usual red base, with white details with the shoulder stripes, as well as the kit manufacturer’s logo and the sponsor.
The collar looks smart, and the accents on the outside of it, as well as the arms, come with a white and black mix that has become synonymous with Man United kits.
That design is claimed to represent the iconic 1970s look.
8
Arsenal (Home)
Adidas/Arsenal
After being crowned Premier League champions for 2025/26, Arsenal quickly moved to unveil their new look for the following season, with hopes that the kit will see them win another trophy or two.
While it is the usual red and white expected of the Gunners in collaboration with Adidas, the finer details are a celebration of the club’s move to the Emirates Stadium 20 years ago.
The collar, shoulder trim and arm trim are all fit with a special design, meant to represent the stadium’s architecture after finally making the place feel like home.
It’s nothing too extravagant, but it screams Arsenal, and that’s all that the home kit needs to do.
Adidas continues to be ahead of the pack when it comes to releasing kits early on, with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich next up in the ranking.
After a design that was pretty out there for 2025/26, there is a return to something that is instantly recognisable as the Bavarian club.
There’s a return to an all-red base, with slightly darker red stripes in the centre of the kit, which keeps it slightly more subtle compared to the white stripe and white hoop designs of the 2010s.
As always, Adidas have their iconic stripes across the shoulders, along with a nice white trim across the collar and arms that help add that little bit of flair to an otherwise clean design.
6
Manchester City (Home)
Puma/Manchester City
We have a new kit manufacturer entering the fray for this list, and it’s Puma, who have come out with a bold new look for Manchester City, during what is set to be a bold new era for the club.
The first post-Pep Guardiola shirt features the usual sky blue, but there is a gradient through the kit that fades to white at the bottom, which carries on to the short design, while there are white trims across the kit, as well as white logos across the kit.
The theme is “Not Your Typical City”, with the idea being about change and moving forward, as represented in the kit being something a bit different.
It’s certainly fresh and distinctive, and it should look good on the pitch come August.
5
Celtic (Home)
Adidas/Celtic
Celtic won the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership in dramatic fashion, but remain top of the tree in the division, and will be looking to retain the title again in 2026/27.
The new home shirt for the campaign is an impressive one, and while the gold could represent the recent title win, it is actually an anniversary kit.
The design pays tribute to the Lisbon Lions, the Celtic team in 1967 that won the European Cup in impressive fashion with a 2-1 win over Inter Milan.
Within the gold accents there is also the phrase “60 Anniversario” above the crest, topping off a kit that includes the traditional green and white hoops and the usual Adidas stripes on the shoulders.
4
Juventus (Home)
Adidas/Juventus
Sticking with the gold theme, Juventus and Adidas have smashed it out the park with an impressive design for the 2026/27 home kit.
The club crest, Adidas logo, and sponsor are all draped in gold, with a kit that is meant to represent tradition and heritage in what could be an important campaign for the Bianconeri.
While the stripes are further apart than other recent kits, the polo-styled collar makes it look like a timeless entry from Juventus that could look smart on the biggest stage.
3
Real Betis (Home)
Hummel/Real Betis
Welcome Hummel to the mix, as their entry for Real Betis is a mixture of iconic and fresh to create something fascinating for the 2026/27 La Liga campaign.
The home kit plays on the usual green and white stripes, but with distorted stripes across the top and bottom thirds of the kit to stand out from other designs.
The wide v-neck collar gives it a sleek look that will make it a fan-favourite for many football fans looking at kits across the world for the coming campaign.
2
Aston Villa (Home)
Adidas/Aston Villa
Adidas has simply smashed it out of the park with this Aston Villa home kit, opting for a throwback look that harks back to designs from the 1960s.
The club has gone back to just claret and blue across the whole shirt, including the kit crest and the Adidas logo, making it fit the two-tone look.
It’s a clean and effective look that fits that of European champions, though it remains to be seen whether a sponsor could change how the overall design comes across.
1
Lyon (Away)
Adidas/Lyon
Taking top spot (for now) is Lyon‘s away kit for the 2026/27 season, which puts together a burgundy and gold mixture to come out looking classy.
The design pays tribute to the city’s silk workers and craftmanship, going for style and substance without adding too much or too little to the overall kit.
The crest opts for just the lion that features in the “O” of the modern OL badge, while Adidas have decided to include the trefoil logo over their newer three-striped option, bringing together a classic look.
The design is brought together by the polo-styled collar, making this the best-looking kit currently revealed.
Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a deal to sign Bournemouth star Marcos Senesi, with a contract to be signed soon, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.
The Lilywhites avoided disaster on the final day of the Premier League season by claiming all three points against Everton, keeping them in the division and maintaining their status as an ever-present club in the top-flight since it’s inception in 1992.
Now manager Roberto De Zerbi is keen to make big additions to his squad in the upcoming summer transfer window to improve the team, and ensure that is a scenario they are never in again.
Tottenham Agree Deal for Senesi
Senesi, who has been described as ‘outstanding’, is set to become a free agent at the end of June when his Bournemouth contract expires, and he is understood to be a target for a number of top clubs.
But after months of talks with the north London club, Spurs have now won the race for his signature, with the Argentina international making a final decision over his future.
Senesi has now agreed all terms over his contract and is expected to formally put pen to paper on his deal in the coming days, with Galetti describing the deal as ‘done’.
The 29-year-old is expected to be named in Argentina’s World Cup squad for the tournament this summer, where he will be alongside Cristian Romero, who is expected to depart Tottenham this summer after months of speculation.
Senesi will join the club alongside Andy Robertson, who is expected to sign after leaving Liverpool when his contract expires this summer, after a deal that was initially agreed in January collapsed.
Manchester United have submitted a bid to sign Botafogo midfielder Danilo as their summer plans to strengthen their central midfield continue.
Man United clearly have big plans to significantly improve their squad ahead of their return to the Champions League next season.
Red Devils chiefs are ready to back Michael Carrick in the transfer market following his appointment as permanent United manager, as he secured a third-place finish in the Premier League having beaten all of Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Aston Villa during his caretaker spell in charge.
While United could look at bolstering their attack, in the full-back areas and in goal if players depart Old Trafford during the close season, the undoubted priority is in central midfield.
Just months after he asked to leave on loan, they have been boosted by the form of a rejuvenated Kobbie Mainoo in the centre, but now they need to find players to complement him ahead of the new season.
Casemiro’s exit is already confirmed on the expiry of his contract next month, while Manuel Ugarte is expected to follow him out of the club after a disappointing two-season spell at Old Trafford.
Should the Uruguayan leave, United could add up to three new midfielders to Carrick’s squad.
Botafogo ‘Receive Offer’ From Man United for Danilo
Nottingham Forest’s Danilo
Manchester United are already ‘very close’ to an agreement to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson, according to Fabrizio Romano, but he might not be the only Brazilian midfielder arriving at Old Trafford in the coming months should a move get the green light.
According to UOL Esporte, United are one of four European clubs to submit an offer to Botafogo to sign 25-year-old midfielder Danilo this summer.
Serie A duo AC Milan and Atalanta have also made offers for the Brazilian ‘phenomenon’, as well as Russian outfit Zenit St Petersburg.
After Danilo received a call-up to Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup, Botafogo believe that he could be worth more after the tournament has concluded.
Despite interest from fellow Brazilian clubs Flamengo and Palmeiras, the former Nottingham Forest star is more inclined to seal a return to European football this summer.
Man United ‘Close to Agreement’ to Sign Sandro Tonali
While United are being linked with the likes of West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes and Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni, it’s starting to appear as though Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali might become a key target with hopes of a deal for number one target Elliot Anderson fading.
The Nottingham Forest midfielder is the Red Devils’ top midfield target, but he is currently more likely to join Manchester City instead.
Reports in Italy over the last few days have suggested that Carrick has told United chiefs that he wants Tonali at Old Trafford after he established himself as one of the best in his position in the Premier League.
A separate report believes that the Red Devils are actually closing in on an agreement to sign the Italy international from the Magpies, who are said to have placed a €100m (£86m) price tag upon his head.
United aren’t messing around in their bid to strengthen their midfield, but now they must decide which deals they are going to give the green light to, with a clear intention to wrap up at least some of their business before the World Cup kicks off on June 11.
