Pep Guardiola Expected to Leave Manchester City After This Season

Pep Guardiola is expected to leave Manchester City at the end of the season after 10 trophy-filled years as manager, according to multiple sources close to the club.

The club did not confirm reports Monday night that Guardiola’s final match will be Sunday’s home game against Aston Villa, the Premier League season’s last day. However, figures around the club increasingly anticipate an announcement before the season concludes. Guardiola’s representatives have been contacted for comment.

His former assistant Enzo Maresca, who has been out of work since leaving Chelsea in January, is expected to replace him as manager next season.

City face Bournemouth away on Tuesday. They must win both remaining games to have a chance of overtaking league leaders Arsenal and securing a domestic treble; Arsenal will clinch the title if they beat Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Guardiola won his third FA Cup with City on Saturday, defeating Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley, and secured his fifth League Cup in March.

During his tenure, Guardiola has won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, the Champions League, and multiple domestic cups.

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Guardiola began his tenure at City on July 1, 2016, after leaving Bayern Munich. After a third-place finish in his first Premier League season and a statement following a defeat at Leicester that he was ‘not a coach for the tackles’, he won the title six times in the next seven years.

The title run began with a league-record 100 points, followed by the domestic treble the next season. In 2023, City won three trophies: the league, Champions League, and FA Cup.

Guardiola signed a contract extension through 2027 in November 2024, citing the team’s poor form at the time as his reason for staying. ‘I didn’t want to let the club down,’ he said. ‘I felt I could not leave now.’

The club is scheduled to host a celebration in Manchester on Monday, May 25, honoring both the men’s and women’s teams. The women’s team won the Women’s Super League and can achieve a domestic double by beating Brighton in the Women’s FA Cup final on Sunday, May 31. City also won the FA Youth Cup.

Ahead of the FA Cup final, Guardiola was asked if the Wembley visit would be tinged with sadness given it might be his last. ‘No way. No way. I have a one year [left on my] contract,’ he said. ‘I’m so disappointed that they don’t make a stand for Pep [at Wembley], the number of times I’ve been there – at least a lounge or a box. Maybe I go 24 more times.’