Pep Guardiola’s cycle at Manchester City FC will officially come to an end at the end of the 2025-2026 season. The English club confirmed this Friday the departure of the Spanish coach after an unforgettable decade in which he completely transformed the history of the institution and marked an era in European football.
Guardiola, 55, will take charge of his final game next Sunday against Aston Villa FC before taking on a new role as an ambassador for the City Football Group. His farewell closes one of the most successful stages ever seen in the Premier League.
Since his arrival in 2016, the former FC Barcelona and FC Bayern Munich coach won 20 titles with City, including six Premier Leagues and the first UEFA Champions League in the club’s history. Beyond the trophies, Guardiola revolutionized English football with an offensive, dominant and possession style that influenced an entire generation of coaches.
“What a time we have lived together!” expressed Guardiola in the club’s official statement. “There is no reason to leave, but deep down I know that it is my time,” added the Catalan coach.
The news of his departure had already begun to circulate during the week, especially after City lost the fight for the league title against Arsenal FC. Although Guardiola avoided talking about his future at the time, the announcement ended up confirming the end of an unrepeatable era.
Now, all eyes point to Enzo Maresca, current coach with a past in Guardiola’s coaching staff, identified as the main candidate to occupy the Etihad Stadium bench.
