Manchester City have confirmed that manager Pep Guardiola will leave the club at the end of the season after 10 highly successful seasons at the Etihad.
The announcement comes as no surprise given reports that have been circulating for several months that the Catalans will stop this summer, despite signing a two-year contract 12 months ago. Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is the favorite to replace him.
Guardiola said on the club’s official website: “When I arrived, my first interview was with Noel Gallagher. I walked out thinking, ‘Okay… Noel is here? This is going to be fun.’
“And what a time we had together. Don’t ask me the reasons why I’m leaving. There’s no reason, but deep down, I know it’s my time. Nothing is forever, if there was, I’d 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 graft. You can see it in the color of the bricks. From people who come early, stay late. Factories. The Pankhursts. Unions. Music. Just 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.
“Hard work comes in many forms. The trip to Bournemouth, when we lost the Premier League, and you were there. The trip to Istanbul, when you were there, too.”
Guardiola thanks City and the fans for their support in difficult times
Guardiola leaves having won 20 major trophies but revealed that it wasn’t always going well for him in Manchester.
“Remember, the Manchester Arena attack, when this city showed the world what power looks like? Not anger. Not fear. Just love. Community. Cooperation. A united city.
“Remember, the loss of my mother during COVID and I feel that this club carries me through it. The fans, the staff, the people of Manchester, you gave me strength when I needed it most. Cris, my children, my whole family, you were there as always. Khaldoon, you were there too.
“Players can’t forget – every moment, every minute, 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.
“Brothers, thank you for trusting me, thank you for pushing me, thank you for loving me.
“Tony Walsh said in his poem that I will never forget, this is the place, I’m sorry, Tony: this is my place.
“Noel…I was right. It was so much fun.
“I love you all.”
Manchester City chairman Al Mubarak pays tribute to Guardiola’s departure
Guardiola’s final game in charge will be Sunday’s home game against Aston Villa. He will bow out alongside long-time players Bernardo Silva and John Stones.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said: “Over the past 10 years, honesty and trust have formed the basis of which we have faced every situation together with Pep – always understanding that we can find the right answer together.” Today the correct answer is for Pep to finish his journey as manager of Manchester City.
“There were points where he could have stopped, and that would have been enough. Somehow, Pep always found new strength and kept moving forward, finding different and new ways to keep winning and bringing success.
“Because of this, the club has ten memories and achievements to be grateful for forever, and in addition, an irreversible evolution.
“The unique approach he brings to coaching has allowed him to continue to challenge the accepted truths of our game. It’s the reason that over the last decade he hasn’t just made Manchester City better – he’s also made football better.”
What did Guardiola win at Manchester City?
6 – Premier League
1 – Champions League
3 – FA Cup
5 – EFL Cup
1 – Team World Cup
1 – Super Cup
3 – Community Shield
