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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has officially confirmed he will step down as manager at the end of the season. The news was made public in an emotional video shared on social media on Friday, just days before the club's final Premier League game of the season against Aston Villa.
The Spanish coach, who took charge of the "Citizens" in 2016, leaves after a historic period at the club, where he managed to win the Champions League, six Premier League titles and a series of domestic trophies, being considered the most successful coach in Manchester City's history.
" Don't ask me why I'm leaving. There's no concrete reason. But deep down I know my time has come ," Guardiola said in his message.
Manchester City are set to appoint Enzo Maresca as Guardiola's successor, according to British media reports. The Italian has previously been part of City's coaching staff as the Spaniard's assistant at the Etihad, and has also managed Chelsea and Leicester City.
However, Guardiola will not be leaving the club completely. The 55-year-old has announced that he will take on the role of Manchester City's Global Ambassador.
A historic era at Etihad
Pep Guardiola arrived in Manchester in 2016 and quickly imposed his playing philosophy on English football, changing the standards in the Premier League.
The first league title came in the 2017-2018 season, when City collected a record 100 points. The peak of success was reached in the 2022-2023 season, when the team won the historic treble – Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup – becoming only the second English team to achieve this feat after Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in the 1998-1999 season.
In 10 years at the helm of City, Guardiola won a whopping 20 trophies, including the first Champions League in the club's history, six Premier League titles and three FA Cups.
The club's chief executive, Ferran Soriano, described Guardiola's legacy as "extraordinary".
" Pep's impact will be fully appreciated by future Manchester City historians. He led the club to global excellence and his standards will remain a benchmark for generations to come ," Soriano declared.
Even the club's president, Khaldun Al Mubarak, praised the Spanish coach's work.
" There were moments when he could have stopped and no one would have judged him. But Pep always found new energy to continue and bring success ," he said.
Speculations about the future
Guardiola's name has long been linked with a possible move to head the Italian national team. PSG coach Luis Enrique has also spoken out on the matter, not ruling out such a scenario.
" When I was managing Spain, I often wondered if Guardiola had the same ambition. I don't think he will go to Italy, but I don't rule it out either. I would like to see him for many more years at the highest levels ," said Luis Enrique.
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