Pep Guardiola is set to step down as Manchester City boss after a decade of historic management position.
The announcement came from the club on Friday, stating that the Catalan would leave Manchester City FC after the season ends on Sunday, despite having a year left on his contract.
When asked about the reason for leaving the club so early, Guardiola replied: “Don’t ask me the reasons why I’m leaving. There is no reason, but deep down I know it’s my time. Nothing lasts forever.”
“If it were, I would be here. Forever will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City,”
Despite existing as boss, Guardiola would be part of the City Football Group as a global ambassador, the club said.
10 years, 20 titles and one lasting legacy
Pep Guardiola joined Manchester City in 2016 and oversaw a highly successful era for the club, winning six Premier League titles, the Champions League, three FA Cups, five English League Cups and the FIFA Club World Cup.
In the 2023-2024 season, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City made history by becoming the first team to win four consecutive English league titles.
Here is the breakdown of 20 titles:
- Six premier leagues
- Five League Cups
- Three FA Cups
- Three community shields
- One Champions League
- One UEFA Super Cup
- One FIFA Club World Cup
During his time at the club, Manchester City’s revenues increased significantly, from less than £400 million in the season before his arrival to a high of over £700 million in recent seasons.
Tributes poured in
In the sporting world, the news of Pep Guardiola leaving the club has sent shockwaves, leaving fans sad. At the same time, massive tributes poured in, praising his historic achievement and decades-long career at the club.
Manchester City posted on its official X account: “What a time we had together.”
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague said: “It’s emotional because when he talks about the attack at the Manchester Arena, he doesn’t mention that he couldn’t contact his daughter and his wife.”
‘In the midst of the chaos, he understood the shock and the sense of community in which everyone helped each other. I think this is one of the recent reasons why he fell in love with the city of Manchester and the people of Manchester.
Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano said: “We will be forever grateful to Pep and cherish so many unforgettable memories. He is a City legend… forever.”
“No one would have believed ten years ago that we could win 20 trophies in this decade, playing such high quality, entertaining football. It was unthinkable… and yet it happened.”
Users also paid heartfelt tribute to the legend. One user wrote: “Pep takes on the legends of this sport for the greatest of all time. A tactical master who has won the biggest games with the biggest clubs. There may never be another like him.”
Another commented: “A decade of football that rewrote what was possible. Pep didn’t just win trophies at City, he changed the way the whole world thinks about the game. The Treble, the records, the swagger, the philosophy, none of this happens without him.”
‘Thanks for everything, Pep.
There will never be anyone like you again.”
