Manchester City have officially announced that Pep Guardiola will depart the club following Sunday's final match of the season against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium. This confirmation brings to a close one of the most extraordinarily successful managerial tenures in English football history.
Guardiola's Decade of Dominance
The Catalan coach, who still had one year remaining on his contract, will now be succeeded by Enzo Maresca. Guardiola's impending exit first emerged on Monday night, and the club has now made it public. Speaking after City's draw at Bournemouth on Tuesday, which confirmed Arsenal as Premier League champions, Guardiola stated: "The first person who has to talk is the chairman. When we finish the season, we will talk and take a decision. I'm the happiest man on the planet to be at this club. It is extraordinary."
In his post-match press conference, he elaborated: "Listen, with the club, always I talk, but not now. The first thing you have to understand is you should talk with my chairman (Khaldoon Al Mubarak) first, right? And after that, when I talk with my chairman, we'll decide."
Unprecedented Success
Since his appointment in the summer of 2016, Guardiola has led City to an era of unparalleled achievement. Prior to this season, he secured six Premier League titles, one Champions League, and two FA Cups. He added a fifth Carabao Cup earlier this season by defeating Arsenal 2-0 in the final. However, his crowning achievement was the 2022/23 campaign, where City won the Treble of Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup. Last season they finished third behind champions Liverpool and Arsenal, and this season second to the Gunners, but Guardiola's tenure remains the longest of his managerial career.
Guardiola spent four years at Barcelona before leaving in 2012, took a year off, then joined Bayern Munich in 2013 before moving to City three years later. He departs the Etihad with a remarkable haul of 20 trophies, the latest being last Saturday's FA Cup final victory over Chelsea at Wembley.
Players Reflect on Guardiola's Impact
John Stones, who arrived alongside Guardiola in 2016 and is also leaving the club at season's end, thrived under the Catalan's philosophy. He said: "I think when I look back at when I first came, I wasn't a player that was a typical kind of centre-half. I was maybe built for how football is now, but 10 years ago Pep saw that and everyone kind of got behind me, and I felt it was the right way to play football. I think the word genius comes about, but how he sees the game is totally different. That was one of the things when I came. I thought I knew football but I realised quickly I didn't."
Bernardo Silva, another departing City player, revealed Guardiola was his 'idol' before arriving in Manchester. He said: "Way before I joined Man City, Pep for me was always an inspiration because when he was training Barcelona, that team with the small guys, with Xavi, (Andres) Iniesta, (Lionel) Messi, Pedro. I was at the time in Benfica in my academy years where I didn't play because they thought that I wasn't big enough, that I wasn't strong enough. And me looking at that team and thinking, 'these guys, they're also not big, they're also not strong. If they can do it, maybe one day I can do it'. So, Pep's team was always an inspiration for me and then to join the club and to be able to be with him nine years and to be a part of this success, it's fantastic."
Farewell Events and Future
Guardiola and his players will participate in a parade on Monday, joined by the women's team (who won the Women's Super League) and the club's under-18 side (FA Youth Cup winners). The parade will be followed by an event at the Co-op Live arena. While goalkeeper coach Xabi Mancisidor and fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura have already announced their departures, it remains unclear whether Pep Lijnders and Kolo Toure will stay at the club.
