When it comes to football management, Pep Guardiola is renowned for his meticulous attention to detail and tactical genius. But off the pitch, there’s another aspect of Pep’s personality that fans can’t stop talking about—his undeniable love for baker boy hats. Over the years, Pep’s signature style has become almost as iconic as his dominance in the Premier League.
Guardiola’s fondness for the baker boy hat isn’t just a casual preference—it’s become his signature look. Interestingly, this obsession seems to have started only after he arrived in England. Before his move to Manchester City in 2016, there were no notable instances of Pep sporting the iconic flat cap. But once he adapted to life in the UK, it was as though the country’s weather and cultural charm inspired him to embrace the style wholeheartedly.
Iconic Instances of Pep and His Hats
Over the years, Pep has been spotted donning the baker boy hat in several memorable moments, further cementing his reputation as a flat-cap connoisseur.
Liverpool vs. Stoke Game, 2016: Shortly after arriving in England, Pep was seen in the stands wearing a baker boy hat. This early appearance marked the beginning of what would become a long-standing style signature.
2018: Industrial Peaky Blinders-Style Hat: Pep leveled up his hat game, sporting a flat cap that wouldn’t look out of place in a gritty Peaky Blinders episode. Fans began to draw comparisons to the Shelby clan.
2019 Manchester City Title Parade: During the celebrations for Manchester City’s Premier League title, Pep was seen wearing a striped flat cap. He later revealed that the hat was a gift from Bernard Halford’s wife. Halford, a lifelong Manchester City official and club secretary, was a beloved figure who had passed away earlier that year. Pep said, “Bernard Halford’s wife gave it to me as a present to celebrate the titles we won this season. So I’m wearing this for him.” This heartfelt gesture added an emotional layer to Pep’s iconic look.
2017 Bonding Session at a Rum Bar: Ahead of an FA Cup clash against Arsenal, Pep took his backroom staff to Tapio & Wine, a rum bar in Manchester, for a team bonding session. Dressed casually in a flat cap, hoodie, jeans, and trainers, Pep appeared relaxed as he chatted with colleagues, including then-assistant coach Mikel Arteta. The hat, as always, was the highlight of his laid-back outfit.
Street Style in Manchester: If you’ve ever wondered what Pep Guardiola would look like if he wasn’t busy tactically dismantling teams on the pitch, just picture him strolling through the streets of Manchester in a Peaky Blinders-inspired outfit. Pep was once spotted wearing the quintessential flat cap, paired with a grey oversized trench coat, a beige scarf, white trousers, and trainers that screamed, “I’m both classy and ready for a jog.”
A Peaky Blinders Connection?
The comparison between Pep’s hat style and the iconic flat caps made famous by the TV series Peaky Blinders hasn’t gone unnoticed. Fans frequently draw parallels between Guardiola’s look and that of Thomas Shelby, the cunning and sharply dressed protagonist of the show.
But while Tommy Shelby wore the hat as part of a gangster persona, Pep’s adoption of the style feels more deliberate and refined. His choice of minimalist outfits, often accented by the hat, gives off an air of understated confidence—much like his approach to football management. Guardiola doesn’t just wear the hat; he owns it.
Fans have embraced the look wholeheartedly. One even said, “He looks so cute I could put him in my pocket,” as mentioned above, capturing the internet’s collective admiration for Pep’s stylish yet approachable vibe.
The Manchester City Peaky Blinders Crew
Of course, Pep isn’t the only one in the Manchester City camp embracing this vintage aesthetic. Players like Ruben Dias, John Stones, and Mateo Kovacic have also been spotted sporting outfits reminiscent of the Peaky Blinders era, fueling playful fan theories about a “City Peaky Blinders” crossover.
The moment Ruben Dias and Pep Guardiola stepped out in their Peaky Blinders-inspired outfits, it was like a lightbulb went off in the minds of football fans and meme creators alike. In a hilarious twist, the internet did what the internet does best—took these two City stars, threw them into the iconic family pose from Peaky Blinders, and turned the duo into the newest members of the Shelby gang. Why? Because they were rocking the same sharp, vintage look that made Cillian Murphy’s Tommy Shelby a pop culture legend.
One fan couldn’t help but joke, “😂😂😂 Pep would be next in line after Tommy,” implying that the Manchester City manager was ready to step into Tommy Shelby’s shoes. Another fan went even further, suggesting that if Pep were to join the Peaky Blinders, it would make the show “10x better.” Imagine Pep with a fedora in one hand and a tactical board in the other, planning his next move like a gangster. Brilliant, right?
But the fun didn’t stop with Pep and Ruben. As the meme machine cranked up, fans started adding more City players to the mix.
Enter General John Stones—who, let’s be real, could easily fit the role of a tough-as-nails army leader with a fedora perched just so on his head.
And let’s not forget Mateo Kovacic, who’s also been spotted wearing similarly sharp attire, earning him a spot in the Peaky Blinders family.
Fans got creative, giving each City player their own Shelby-style persona, and let’s just say, the squad is looking ready for some serious business… off the pitch.
So, if the next Peaky Blinders upcoming movie features a tactical mastermind who talks football more than crime, we know who to blame—the fans who turned Pep and Ruben into their own crossover event. In fact, who needs a gang of Birmingham criminals when you’ve got the best Premier League team in a full-on gangster lineup?
