After a decade, Spanish coach Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City at the end of the season, the club announced on Friday, ending one of the most successful eras in English football and one of the most influential manager’s reigns in history.
The 55-year-old Catalan coach’s departure will close a remarkable chapter that transformed City into a football powerhouse.
Guardiola, who took charge of City in 2016, has won six Premier League titles — including four in a row —, three FA Cups, five League Cups and the Champions League, but his team has not won the national championship for two years.
“Don’t ask me the reasons for my departure. There is no reason, but deep down I know that my time has come,” Guardiola said in a statement.
“Nothing is eternal; if it were, I would be here. Eternal will be the feelings, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City. We worked. We suffered. We fought. And we did things our way. In our own way.”
Although City have won a domestic cup double this season, Guardiola saw his dreams of a seventh Premier League title dashed when he drew 1-1 at Bournemouth on Tuesday, handing the title to Arsenal, with City destined to finish second.
His last game in charge will be the home clash against Aston Villa, on Sunday (24), before taking on the role of global ambassador for City Football Group, providing technical consultancy to the group’s clubs.
City also announced that the expanded north stand at the Etihad Stadium will be named the Pep Guardiola Stand, and a statue will be commissioned to be displayed at the entrance to the stand.
Historical campaigns
Guardiola arrived in Manchester with a CV already full of trophies won by Barcelona and Bayern Munich, taking over from Manuel Pellegrini in July 2016.
After inheriting a victorious club financed by the Abu Dhabi United Group, Guardiola will leave having built a football empire after driving a paradigm shift in Premier League tactics.
As Guardiola faced the challenge of adapting to the fast pace and physical intensity characteristic of English football, possession became an art form and a defensive tool at City, with his teams seeking absolute control of the game.
The result has not only been total dominance — evidenced by historic campaigns such as the 100-point, 106-goal 2017/18 season — but also relentless consistency year after year, including a record four consecutive league titles.
Guardiola’s squads have set new standards, forcing other teams to evolve, while City’s financial might, combined with astute signings such as coveted striker Erling Haaland, has helped them win the treble in 2022/23.
However, the specter of 115 charges of alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules hangs over his time at the club.
Guardiola raised the bar
His rivalry with former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp raised the level of the Premier League so much that even 97 points proved insufficient for the Anfield team to win the title in 2018/19.
More recently, Guardiola faced a challenge from his protégé and former assistant coach Mikel Arteta, who took over at Arsenal and finished second to City twice before finally lifting the trophy this season.
But Guardiola looked back fondly on his time in Manchester, remembering how the city came together after the Manchester Arena bombing and also describing how the club helped him through a difficult period when he lost his mother to Covid-19.
“The fans, the coaching staff, the people of Manchester, you gave me strength when I needed it most,” he added.
“Players, don’t forget — every moment, every moment, me, my coaching staff, this club, everything. What we did, we did for all of you. And you were simply exceptional. You don’t know it yet, but you are leaving a legacy.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for trusting me. Thank you for encouraging me. Thank you for loving me… Tony Walsh said in his unforgettable poem: ‘This is the place’. I’m sorry, Tony: this is where I belong.”
