Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City at the end of the season, putting an end to a trophy-laden decade in charge of the club.
After enjoying successful spells at Barcelona and then Bayern Munich, Guardiola joined the Cityzens in 2016.
While he finished without a major trophy in his debut campaign, Manchester City went on to dominate England in the following years, becoming the first English team to reach 100 points in a single Premier League season, as well as winning four league titles in a row.
Reports had emerged earlier in the week of Guardiola’s departure and the former Barcelona manager confirmed the news on Friday in an emotional video.
“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”, Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said.
“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”, he concluded.
Guardiola won 20 titles in his time at the club, including a remarkable treble in the 2022-23 season, when they won their first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy.
City have also added the EFL Cup and the FA Cup to their cabinet this season, although they missed out on the Premier League title to Arsenal.
Guardiola will take charge of his final game at the club on Sunday against Aston Villa, while they have already planned to name a stand at the Etihad Stadium after him, as well as build his statue at the stadium.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
