Manchester City confirmed that manager Pep Guardiola will leave the club at the end of the season, ending a 10-year tenure with 20 trophies and marking one of the most successful eras in English football and the most influential managerial reign in the club's history.
The 55-year-old Catalan arrived at City in 2016, replacing Manuel Pellegrini. Under his leadership, the team won six Premier League titles (including four in a row), three FA Cups, five League Cups, and one Champions League. However, they have not won the domestic league in the past two seasons.
“Don’t ask me why I am leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it is time for me to go,” Guardiola said in Friday’s announcement. “Nothing is eternal. If it were, I would have stayed here. What is eternal will be the emotions, the people, the memories, and the love I have for Manchester City.”
Although City won the domestic double this season (FA Cup and League Cup), their dream of a seventh Premier League title vanished when they drew 1-1 with Bournemouth on Tuesday, allowing Arsenal to claim the crown. City will finish the season in second place. Guardiola’s final match will be against Aston Villa at home on Sunday.
Guardiola arrived in Manchester with a trophy-laden resume from Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Backed financially by the Abu Dhabi United Group, he built a football empire with a possession-based style that became both art and defensive weapon. This philosophy created absolute dominance, exemplified by the 2017-18 season when the team earned 100 points with 106 goals, along with a record four consecutive league titles.
Guardiola’s squad set new standards, forcing other teams to adapt. Smart signings, such as striker Erling Haaland, helped City secure a treble in the 2022-23 season. His rivalry with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp elevated the Premier League to new heights, with Liverpool’s 97 points in 2018-19 proving insufficient to win the title. Recently, Guardiola faced challenges from his former assistant Mikel Arteta (Arsenal), who finished runner-up twice to City before winning the league this season.
The shadow of 115 Premier League financial rule breach charges has lingered over Guardiola’s reign. He reflected on his time in Manchester with emotion, recalling how the city rallied after the Manchester Arena attack, as well as the club’s support when his mother died of COVID-19.
“The fans, the staff, the people of Manchester gave me strength when I needed it most,” Guardiola added. “The players will not forget… What we did, we did for all of you. You don’t know this yet, but you have left a legacy.”
