After a transformative, trophy-filled decade that redefined modern English football, Pep Guardiola has formally announced he will step down as head coach of Manchester City when the current Premier League season concludes this weekend.
The 55-year-old Catalan coach, who collected 20 major honors during his 10 seasons at the Etihad Stadium, will oversee his final match in charge when Manchester City hosts Aston Villa on Sunday. Following his departure, he will stay connected to the City Football Group, taking on a new role as a global ambassador for the organization.
In an official statement released by the club Friday, Guardiola reflected on his time with the side, saying: “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.”
Rumors of Guardiola’s impending exit first emerged early this week. When reports first broke, the coach declined to comment on his future plans, a day before Manchester City officially saw their four-year Premier League title streak end, with Arsenal claiming the 2024-25 crown.
Guardiola arrived at Manchester City in 2015, already widely regarded as one of the most innovative and successful managers in European football. He built a legendary reputation during a four-year spell at his boyhood club Barcelona from 2008 to 2012, where he won two Champions League titles and three La Liga crowns, before adding three consecutive domestic league titles over three seasons with Bayern Munich. Most pundits predicted a similarly short, five-year tenure at most when he made the move to the Premier League, but he would go on to stay a full decade.
Backed by Abu Dhabi ownership, Guardiola led Manchester City out of the long shadow of local rival Manchester United to build the club’s era of dominance. His trophy haul at City includes an unprecedented six Premier League titles, the club’s first and only Champions League crown, three FA Cups, five League Cups, a Club World Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, and three Community Shields.
Beyond the silverware, Guardiola’s impact on English football extends far beyond Manchester City. His signature possession-based, attacking style of play has been adopted at every level of the English game, from grassroots youth football to top-flight elite clubs. Many of the top managers currently leading the league’s biggest clubs are direct disciples of Guardiola’s coaching philosophy: Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, who ended his side’s 22-year Premier League title drought this season, previously served as an assistant under Guardiola at City; Liverpool’s new manager Arne Slot has credited Guardiola’s Barcelona side with shaping his coaching approach; and new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso finished his playing career at Bayern Munich specifically to learn under Guardiola.
The announcement of Guardiola’s exit comes as Manchester City still awaits the final ruling on a long-running Premier League investigation into more than 115 alleged financial regulatory breaches. The club was first charged by the league in February 2023, an independent commission wrapped up its hearings in December 2024, and the final outcome of the case remains pending, hanging over the club’s on-pitch achievements from Guardiola’s tenure.
Per widespread media reports, Enzo Maresca, the current manager of Leicester City and a former assistant coach on Guardiola’s Manchester City staff, is set to take over the head coaching role at the Etihad when Guardiola departs.