Pep Guardiola To Leave Manchester City After Final Premier League Game

Manchester City have confirmed that manager Pep Guardiola will depart the club after the final game of the Premier League season on Sunday.

The Spaniard has led City to 17 major trophies during his decade-long tenure, including six Premier Leagues, five League Cups, three FA Cups, three Community Shields, one Club World Cup and one UEFA Champions League.

The 55-year-old’s final game will be against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium.

“Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving,” said Guardiola. “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.”

Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who was part of Guardiola’s coaching staff at City, is set to replace Pep at the Etihad Stadium.

The confirmation of Guardiola’s exit comes three days after the club was beaten to the 2025-26 Premier League title by Arsenal.

City’s draw at Bournemouth on Tuesday meant the Gunners were crowned champions for the first time in 22 years.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager signed an initial three-year contract with City in February 2016 to take over from Manuel Pellegrini for the start of the 2016-17 season.

Surprisingly, in his first season City failed to pick up any silverware, the first time Pep had gone without in a season.

City are the only team to reach 100 points in a Premier League season, when they also set the record for the most goals scored in a campaign, with 106 in the 2017/18 season.

In 2022-23, City became only the second English team in history, after Manchester United in 1999, to complete the Treble of winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.

In a statement, Guardiola said:

“When I arrived, my first interview was with Noel Gallagher. I walked out thinking, ‘Okay… Noel is here? This will be fun.

“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.

“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.

“Hard work comes in many forms. Trips to Bournemouth, when we lost the Premier League, and you were there. Trips to Istanbul, when you were there, too.

“Remember, the Manchester Arena attack, when this city showed the world what strength actually looks like? Not anger. Not fear. Just love. Community. Togetherness.  A city united.

“Remember, losing my mum during COVID and feeling this club carry me through it. The fans, the staff, the people of Manchester, you gave me strength when I needed it most. Cris, my kids, my whole family, you were there as always. Khaldoon, you were there too.

“Players don’t forget – every single instant, moment, me, my staff, this club, everything. What we have done, we have done it for all of you. And you have been just exceptional. You don’t know it yet, but you are leaving a legacy.

“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.”