Pep 'Kaiser' Guardiola

(Above) Guardiola during Barcelona's Spanish King's Cup celebration at Camp Nou on May 26, 2012.

In 2008, Guardiola was recommended to the Barcelona job by club legend Johan Cruyff and the appointment proved an inspired move.

He infused the team with a fluid passing and pressing game that tormented opponents and in his first year they won six titles including La Liga, the Copa del Rey (King's Cup) and the Champions League, where they beat Manchester United 2-0.

Another Champions League title followed in 2011, as well as two more La Liga crowns in 2010 and 2011.

Aided by the development of Argentine forward Lionel Messi from gifted prodigy to the genius of his generation, Guardiola created Barca's second dream team.

But all good things come to an end.

Their shattering exit to Chelsea in the semi-finals of last season's Champions League and Real Madrid's coronation as new Spanish champions left Guardiola heartbroken and his annoucement that he was finished came as no surprise.