Pep Guardiola has officially confirmed that he is bringing an end to his illustrious decade in charge of Manchester City this weekend, insisting there was ‘no reason’ for his exit, other than that he knew ‘deep inside that it’s my time’.
The Catalan has lifted 17 major trophies at the Etihad Stadium after securing the FA Cup with victory over Chelsea – falling just short of adding a seventh Premier League crown before departing.
Talk around Guardiola’s future has been persistent all season and ex-coach and former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is expected to be announced as the new manager.
City announced the news on X with a video from Guardiola, who said: ‘When I arrived, my first video was with Noel Gallagher. I walk out thinking, “oh, Noel is here, this will be fun.”
‘And what a time we have had together. Don’t ask me the reasons why I’m leaving. There is no reason. But deep inside I know it’s my time. Nothing is eternal. If it was, it would be here.
‘Eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City.
City announced the news on X with a video from Guardiola, who said: ‘When I arrived, my first video was with Noel Gallagher . I walk out thinking, “oh, Noel is here, this will be fun”
Guardiola praised the club for ‘carrying’ him through the death of his mum during Covid-19, as well as thanking his family and wife, Cristina Serra, for their support
The Catalan has lifted 17 major trophies with the Etihad club – here he is pictured with the FA Cup trophy in 2019, his first of three
‘This is a city built from work, from graft. You see it in the colour of the bricks. From people who clock in early and who stay late.
‘The factories, the bankers, the unions, the music. Simply, the Industrial Revolution and how this changed the world. I think I grew to understand that, and my teams did, too. We work and we suffer. We fought and we did things our own way. Our way.
‘Hard work comes in many forms. Trips to Bournemouth, when we lost the Premier League and you were there. And trips to Istanbul, when you were there, too.
‘Remember the Manchester Arena Attack? When the city showed the world what strength actually looks like. Not anger. Not fear. Just love. Community, togetherness, a City united.
‘I remember losing my mum during COVID and feeling this club carry me through it. The fans, the staff, the people of Manchester, you gave me strength when I needed it most. Cris, my kids, my whole family, you were there as always. Khaldoon, you were there too.
‘Players, don’t forget – every single instant, every single moment, me, my staff, this club, everything. What we have done, we have done it for all of you. And you have been just exceptional. You don’t know it yet, but you are leaving a legacy.
‘So as my time comes to an end, be happy. Oasis are back again.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for trusting me. Thank you for pushing me. Thank you for loving me.
‘Tony Walsh said in his unforgettable poem this is the place. I’m sorry, Tony: this is my place.
‘Noel…I was right. It has been so f****** fun.
‘Love you all.’
Guardiola insisted there was ‘no reason’ for his exit, other than that he knew ‘deep inside that it’s my time’
Guardiola masterminded a domestic Treble in 2019 and then became only the second coach of an English team to complete the league, FA Cup and Champions League Treble four years later
On Monday, Daily Mail Sport revealed that Guardiola had finalised a decision to leave the Etihad Stadium. It’s understood that he will take a break from coaching.
Guardiola masterminded a domestic Treble in 2019 and then became only the second coach of an English team to complete the league, FA Cup and Champions League Treble four years later.
City’s cohort of 2018 hold the record for being the only team in English history to reach 100 points in a top-flight season and Guardiola will leave behind a legacy that should be impossible to match.
Manchester City Chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak said: ‘Over the last ten years honesty and trust have formed the bedrock on which we have navigated every situation together with Pep – always understanding that we could find the right answer together. Today the right answer is for Pep to finish his journey as the Manager of Manchester City.
‘There have been points along the way when he could have stopped, and it would have been enough. Somehow, Pep always found new energy and pushed on, finding different and innovative ways to continue winning and delivering success.
‘As a result, the Club has a decade of memories and success to be forever grateful for, and much more than that, an evolution that cannot be undone.
‘The unique approach that he brings to his coaching has allowed him to constantly challenge the accepted truths of our game. It is the reason that in the last ten years he has not only made Manchester City better – he has also made football better.’
Director of football Hugo Viana informally spoke to Maresca about the prospect of taking over, with the Italian then leaving Chelsea. City are understood to have also held discussions with a Spanish manager.
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Meanwhile, assistant Pep Lijnders has opted against renewing his contract and is leaving with Guardiola, who heads back to Barcelona on Tuesday.
Fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura and goalkeeping coach Xabi Mancisidor are already confirmed to be leaving, the latter a stalwart of the club since Manuel Pellegrini’s reign.
City have explored the possibility of hiring Guardiola’s right-hand man, Manel Estiarte, on a part-time consultancy basis next season.
It looks set to be an emotional few days at City, with captain Bernardo Silva and John Stones having already formally announced their departures.
City have organised a parade to celebrate the men and women’s teams on Monday, with an after-party event being held at the Co-op Live arena next to the Etihad that will mark the departing stars and their manager.
Manchester City Chief Executive Officer, Ferran Soriano added: ‘We have been privileged to work alongside Pep Guardiola for ten years. We have witnessed his greatness and dedication, but also enjoyed his companionship, his friendship and humanity. What a privilege it has been for so many of us at Manchester City!
‘Pep’s legacy is extraordinary and its true impact will be better assessed by Manchester City historians of the future. He contributed decisively to our journey to global excellence and his high standards will be a reference for our players and managers of the future.
‘If there is something more difficult than winning, it is winning again. It requires incredible persistence, resilience and the humility to start again every year, with the same energy, again and again. This is what Pep did.
‘Nobody would have believed, ten years ago, that we could win 20 trophies in this decade, playing entertaining football of such high quality. It was unthinkable… and yet it was done.
‘As we celebrate the past, we are also very happy to know that Pep will stay with the group and we will be able to use his knowledge and experience in so many of our other clubs to help managers and players.
‘We will forever be grateful to Pep and cherish so many unforgettable memories. He is a City legend… forever.’
Guardiola to be immortalised with a statue
Manchester City have announced that the Etihad Stadium’s North Stand expansion will be named after Pep Guardiola – with the manager also having a statue made in his honour.
An additional 7,000 seats will be open behind one goal for Guardiola’s final match of a decade-long reign against Aston Villa on Sunday.
City regularly kick towards the north side of the ground in second halves and that will now be Guardiola’s lasting legacy.
The statue, to go alongside club legends Colin Bell, Mike Summerbee, Francis Lee, Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Sergio Aguero, has been commissioned on Joe Mercer Way. Kevin De Bruyne is also being immortalised.
‘I said a long time ago that Manchester City should have the very best people at its disposal, both on and off the field,’ said Sheikh Mansour. ‘For ten years Pep has been the personification of that ambition.
‘He has made an indelible imprint on the DNA of the club. One that is borne more from how he won than from the many trophies he lifted.
‘He has the unending gratitude of myself and the entire City family, a family of which he will always be part.’
Guardiola will stand with Bell as the two men to have stands named after them at the Etihad.
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak added: ‘The Pep Guardiola Stand, and the statue that will sit outside it, rightly ensure that Pep’s legacy will remain forever woven into the fabric of this football club, the city of Manchester and English football.
‘The unique relationship that he has with our fans has been earned through the honesty and passion of his ten seasons fighting to bring them success.
‘The Pep Guardiola Stand is a fitting and permanent reminder of that relationship, the most successful period in our Club’s history, and the unique football genius at its heart.’
