Pep Guardiola to leave Manchester City after historic 10-year reign

Pep Guardiola has announced he will step down as manager of Manchester City at the end of the current season, bringing to a close one of the most successful managerial spells in modern football.

The 55-year-old confirmed the decision on Friday, ending a decade-long tenure that reshaped English football and delivered sustained domestic and European success for the Etihad club.

Guardiola will take charge of his final match on Sunday against Aston Villa, a fixture that will mark his 593rd game in charge. His departure signals the end of a period in which Manchester City established itself as the dominant force in the Premier League.

In a farewell statement, Guardiola said the decision came from a personal sense of timing rather than external pressure.

“I don’t want people to overthink it. Deep inside, I know it is my time,” he said. “Nothing is eternal, but what remains is the feeling, the people, and what we achieved together.”

Speculation about his future intensified earlier in the week after Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth mathematically ended their Premier League title defence, handing the crown to Arsenal.

During his time at the club, Guardiola led Manchester City to 20 major trophies, including multiple Premier League titles, domestic cups, and the club’s first UEFA Champions League triumph in 2023 as part of a historic treble-winning season.

City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak praised Guardiola’s impact, describing his decade at the club as transformative both on and off the pitch. He also confirmed that Guardiola will remain within the City Football Group structure in a global ambassadorial capacity after leaving the dugout.

Attention has already turned to his successor, with reports linking former Chelsea assistant and current manager Enzo Maresca as a leading candidate to take over ahead of next season.

Guardiola’s departure marks the end of an era widely regarded as one of the most dominant and influential managerial periods in football history.