Pep Guardiola to leave Manchester City after 10 years

Manchester City confirmed Pep Guardiola will leave at the end of the season, stepping away after Sunday’s home match against Aston Villa with one year remaining on his contract. Enzo Maresca has been lined up as his replacement.

“What a time we have had together,” Guardiola said. “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.”

Guardiola informed his squad of the decision Monday night after the news broke. He has managed City for 10 years, winning 17 major trophies including this season’s Carabao Cup and FA Cup. Hopes of a domestic treble ended Tuesday when City’s 1-1 draw at Bournemouth secured the Premier League title for Arsenal.

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Maresca has agreed in principle to a three-year deal to succeed Guardiola, whom he assisted at City during the 2022-23 season. Maresca has been out of work since leaving Chelsea on New Year’s Day. Chelsea is due substantial compensation for the Italian, who departed with three and a half years remaining on his contract plus a club option for an extra year.

Guardiola said, nodding to Manchester’s history: “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.”

He thanked his “exceptional” players, adding: “You don’t know it yet, but you are leaving a legacy.”

City chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak said: “There have been points along the way when he could have stopped, and it would have been enough. Somehow, Pep always found new energy and pushed on, finding different and innovative ways to continue winning and delivering success.”