A spectre is haunting European football. Watch almost any game, no matter the level, and you will notice it. From inverted full backs to extreme high lines, the tactical threads of the match will eventually converge onto a singular point: Pep Guardiola.For some though, his near total dominance has come at the cost of the game itself. Viewed in this way, the story of modern tactics becomes one in which the protagonists are caught between acknowledging Guardiolas greatness, and wanting to evolve the game beyond him. In The Spectre of Pep, acclaimed tactics writer Jon Mackenzie explores this contradiction.But this is much more than the story of just one man. After tracing Guardiolas ascendancy, displacing giants like Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, it examines how other elite coaches have fought to establish their own legacies within this landscape - including the likes of Jurgen Klopp, Roberto De Zerbi, Luis Enrique, and Mikel Arteta. It also speculates on what the next generation of tactics may look like in a world where Guardiolas influence is arguably diminishing, and how his legacy will be viewed in the future.If you want to understand football today, you have to understand the tactical spectre of Pep Guardiola. To do that, you need this book.