Pep Guardiola to Step Down as Manchester City Manager After a Decade
Manchester City has confirmed that manager Pep Guardiola will step down this summer, drawing the curtain on a legendary ten-year tenure that reshaped English football. The 55-year-old will oversee his 593rd and final match on Sunday against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium, departing a year before his contract was set to expire.
The announcement comes just days after Manchester City missed out on the 2025–26 Premier League title following a midweek draw at Bournemouth. Despite that league disappointment, Guardiola has ensured that his final season ends on a high note, having already secured a domestic cup double by winning both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup.
To commemorate his immense influence, Manchester City announced that the newly expanded north stand at the Etihad Stadium will be officially named "The Pep Guardiola Stand" and will fully open for Sunday's finale. The club has also commissioned a statue of the manager to be placed on the approach to the stand.
Reflecting on the departure, Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour paid tribute to the manager's foundational impact on the team:
"I said a long time ago that Manchester City should have the very best people at its disposal, both on and off the field. For 10 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."
Since arriving in July 2016, the Catalan manager has accumulated 20 major trophies, establishing himself as the most successful manager in City's history. His haul includes six Premier League titles, one UEFA Champions League, three FA Cups, five League Cups, a UEFA Super Cup, a FIFA Club World Cup, and three Community Shields.
Under his guidance, City achieved milestones previously thought impossible in the English game. In the 2017–18 season, they became the first and only top-flight team to reach 100 points, while setting records for the most goals scored (106) and most wins (32). The following year, they swept all four domestic trophies. The absolute pinnacle arrived in the 2022–23 season when City captured the historic Treble—the Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup—before becoming the first English side to win four consecutive top-flight league titles in 2023–24.
Guardiola's exit arrives while Manchester City still awaits the resolution of an investigation into 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations between 2009 and 2018, accusations that the club completely denies.
In an emotional address to the fans, Guardiola looked back on his deep connection to the club and the city, touching on personal moments like the loss of his mother during the pandemic and the community's response to the Manchester Arena attack. Addressing his exit, he stated:
"When I arrived, my first interview was with Noel Gallagher. I walked out thinking, ‘Okay… Noel is here? This will be fun,’" Guardiola said. "And what a time we have had together. Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it’s my time. Nothing is eternal, if it was, I would be here. Eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City."
He added:
"This is a city built from work. From graft. You see it in the colour of the bricks. From people who clocked in early, stayed late. The factories. The Pankhursts. The unions. The music. Simply the Industrial Revolution and how this changed the world. And I think I grew to understand that, and my teams did too. We worked. We suffered. We fought. And we did things our own way. Our way."
At a Friday press conference, Guardiola admitted that maintaining the relentless drive required to fight for silverware year after year had taken its toll. When questioned if his energy levels influenced the decision, he replied, "Absolutely. Absolutely." He added that he intends to take a complete hiatus from the dugout:
"Rest! No plans for [coaching] for a while. Otherwise I would be here. I need to step back. I will not [coach] for a while."
He elaborated on the gradual realization that the team required a fresh perspective:
"It's the time. It's not like going to sleep one day and the day after to say 'now is the time'. It's the process, I felt it for a while," he said. "The club respect me, the decision. The club has to be ready. This job, it's Selhurst Park, Anfield, Madrid and Madrid, FA Cup - now I have to live my life and see what happens. The club needs a new manager, new energy, with these incredible players we have right now. And start to write a new chapter. It's not about when. You know the time. It's not one week ago. We're in competition, I need the players to be with me and me be with them. And after there is the moment to say 'ok, I want to say a proper goodbye to my people'."
He closed his farewell message on a lighthearted note, referencing a famous local poem:
"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."
Though he is stepping away from the touchline, Guardiola is not severing ties with the organization entirely. The club has confirmed that he will transition into a role as a Global Ambassador for the City Football Group, offering technical counsel, working on special projects, and collaborating across its network of global clubs.
As City prepares for a new chapter, former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who previously served as an assistant under Guardiola in Manchester, has emerged as the leading candidate to fill the vacant managerial role.
