Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City at the end of the season, bringing an end to one of the most successful managerial eras in modern football.
The Premier League giants confirmed on Friday that Guardiola’s final match in charge will be Sunday’s league fixture against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium.
Key Highlights:
- Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City F.C. at the end of the season after 10 highly successful years.
- During his tenure, he won 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League triumph.
- The club confirmed his final match will be against Aston Villa, with his departure coming shortly after City lost the league title to Arsenal.
- Guardiola said his decision was personal, stating it was simply “the right moment” to step away.
- He is expected to remain within the City Football Group as a global ambassador after leaving coaching duties.
The 55-year-old Spaniard is departing after 10 seasons at City, during which he transformed the club into a dominant force in English and European football, winning 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and a historic UEFA Champions League triumph.
Speaking on his decision to leave, Guardiola said it was simply the right moment to step away.
“Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it’s my time,” he said.
“Nothing is eternal. Eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City.”
Guardiola’s exit comes just days after City lost the 2025-26 Premier League title to Arsenal following a draw against Bournemouth, a result that handed the North London club their first league crown in 22 years.
Reports earlier this week indicated that City had already begun preparing for Guardiola’s departure despite the fact that his current contract still had one year remaining.
Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who previously worked under Guardiola at City, has emerged as the leading candidate to replace him.
Guardiola joined Manchester City in 2016 from Bayern Munich after a trophy-laden spell in Germany.
Though he failed to win silverware in his first campaign in England, City soon became the dominant side in the Premier League under his leadership.
In the 2017-18 season, Guardiola guided City to a record-breaking 100-point Premier League campaign, while the club also scored an unprecedented 106 goals.
Read also:
- Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 to regain 5-point lead at top of Premier League
- Arsenal’s Ben White returns to England squad after 3-year absence
- Arsenal survive scare to edge Mansfield 2-1 in FA Cup 5th round
The pinnacle of his reign came during the 2022-23 season when City completed a historic Treble by winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League, becoming only the second English club after Manchester United to achieve the feat.
City also became the first club in English football history to win four consecutive Premier League titles after lifting the trophy again in the 2023-24 campaign.
Despite stepping down as manager, Manchester City confirmed Guardiola will continue working within the wider City Football Group as a global ambassador.
Before his arrival in England, Guardiola enjoyed remarkable success with Bayern Munich, winning three Bundesliga titles and multiple domestic cups.
His managerial breakthrough came at Barcelona, where he built one of football’s greatest-ever teams, winning three La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies.
As a player, Guardiola also enjoyed a glittering career with Barcelona and represented Spain internationally, winning Olympic gold at the 1992 Barcelona Games before retiring from football in 2006.
His departure marks the end of a defining era not only for Manchester City but also for the Premier League, where Guardiola’s tactical innovations and relentless pursuit of excellence reshaped modern English football.
