Pep Guardiola has confirmed he will leave Manchester City at the end of the season after 10 years at the helm, with a new role immeidately lined up for the Spaniard
Pep Guardiola has secured a new job with Manchester City’s parent company following confirmation of his exit from the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola will assume an ambassadorial role with City Football Group, which City describe as one that ‘will see him giving technical advice to the clubs in the group, working on specific projects and collaborations’. Sunday’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa will represent his final match after a decade in charge.
The revelation comes after several days of growing speculation and signals the end of one of the most successful managerial reigns in English football history. Since arriving in 2016, the 55-year-old has overseen 20 trophy triumphs, including six Premier League crowns and the Champions League.
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In a lengthy farewell message, Guardiola said: “When I arrived, my first interview was with Noel Gallagher. I walked out thinking, ‘OK… Noel is here? This will be fun. And what a time we have had together. “Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it’s my time.
“Nothing is eternal, if it was, I would be here. Eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City.” He finished with: “Noel…I was right. It has been so f****** fun. Love you all.”
Guardiola’s contract was due to expire in the summer of 2027 but he has struck a deal to step aside 12 months early. His former right-hand man Enzo Maresca, who has been out of work since leaving Chelsea in January, is the leading candidate to succeed him.
City pulled off a massive signing when they landed Guardiola, widely regarded as the greatest manager of his era, a decade ago. He arrived with a glittering CV, having won the Champions League twice and three LaLiga titles at Barcelona, before adding three Bundesliga championships with Bayern Munich.
His time in Manchester brought unparalleled domestic dominance, featuring three FA Cup victories and five Carabao Cup wins, while additional silverware included the Club World Cup.
Amongst the most extraordinary achievements of his tenure were the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in 2023, a domestic treble in 2019 and a record-breaking 100-point league season in 2018.
He leaves after securing a domestic cup double this campaign, while dreams of a seventh league title only disappeared in their penultimate match on Tuesday, when they drew 1-1 at Bournemouth.
Chief executive officer Ferran Soriano commented: “Pep’s legacy is extraordinary and its true impact will be better assessed by Manchester City historians of the future.”