Pep Guardiola to leave Man City: The Spaniard announces his departure after a decade of success at the Premier League club | Football news
Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City this summer after ten years in charge.
“And what a time we had together,” Guardiola said in an emotional statement. “Don’t ask me the reasons why I left, there is no reason, but deep down I know it’s my time.”
After months of speculation over his future, the Spaniard will leave at the end of the 2025/26 season, despite having a year left on his contract.
Guardiola will go on to win the cup double in his 10th and final campaign, but missed out on the Premier League title after Man City’s draw at Bournemouth.
Since his appointment in February 2016, the 55-year-old has won everything club football has to offer, transforming and reshaping the Premier League as we know it.
During his 10 years at Man City he guided the club to an incredible 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League trophy in 2023.
Guardiola will continue his relationship with City Football Group, participating as a global ambassador. The role will see him providing technical advice to team members, working on specific projects and collaborations.
Guardiola’s dismissal comes as City await the outcome of an investigation into 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules.
The alleged violations cover the period between 2009 and 2018. Manchester City denies all charges.
Pep’s departure quotes in full in an emotional video
“Nothing is forever, if there was, I would be here. Forever will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City.
“This is a city built by work. From the graft. You can see it in the color of the bricks. From the people who come early, stay long. Factories. The Pankhursts. Unions. Music. Simply the Industrial Revolution and how this changed the world. And I think I grew up understanding that, and my teams did too.
“We worked, we suffered, we fought. And we did things our way. Our way.
“Hard work comes in many forms. The trip to Bournemouth, where we lost the Premier League, and there you were. The trip to Istanbul, where you are, too.
“Remember, the Manchester Arena attack, when this city showed the world what power really looks like? Not anger. Not fear. Just love. Community. Cooperation. A united city.
“Remember, losing my mother during COVID and I feel this club carries me through it. The fans, the staff, the people of Manchester, you gave me strength when I needed it the most. Cris, my children, my whole family, you were there as always. Khaldoon, you were there too.
“Players don’t forget – every moment, moment, me, my staff, this club, everything. What we did, we did it for you all. And you were amazing. You don’t know it yet, but you leave a legacy.
So as my time is up, cheer up. Oasis is back again.
“Guys, thank you for trusting me.
“Thank you for pushing me.
“Thank you for loving me.
“Tony Walsh said in his memorable poem this is the place. I’m sorry, Tony: this is my place.
“Noel…I was right.
“It was a lot of fun ******.
“I love you all.”
The most difficult act in football to follow – but equally fascinating
Analysis by Laura Hunter for Sky Sports:
As the Premier League prepares to bid farewell to one of its greatest modern-day teachers, talk will turn to who has the right pedigree to replace the great Pep Guardiola. There is no one like him. No professional in the world can replicate what Pep has achieved with Manchester City’s treble.
Therefore a new method must be developed.
Whoever replaces Guardiola takes on a challenge that is in many ways similar to the one David Moyes took on when he took over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013. That experiment was short-lived. But this situation has one important difference.
Moyes’ downfall was not caused by following an icon, he actually took over an aging playing squad that had reached the end of the road. Only a handful of players – Wayne Rooney and perhaps Robin van Persie – finished that first season without Fergie with real credit.
But the current City team is at a different stage of its evolution. It may be saying goodbye to club legends Bernardo Silva and John Stones this summer but the core of talent that remains is working well. If you inherit a team built by Pep, it won’t be a bad thing. The average age of the team is such that it should be better, too.
Arne Slot has already dismissed this trend, proving with Liverpool last season what can happen when the combination of players is right. He won the Premier League with the team Jurgen Klopp assembled and prepared to be victorious.
With the right manager in charge and a bit of help in the summer window, there’s no reason why this City team shouldn’t be in the prime to at least compete to do the same.
