Pep Guardiola to leave Manchester City at the end of the season

LONDON: Pep Guardiola will step down as Manchester City manager when the current season ends, the club announced on Friday, closing a 10-year spell that brought one of the most successful periods in English football.

Guardiola took charge of City in 2016 and went on to collect six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups and the Champions League. His tenure is ending after a campaign in which City secured the domestic cup double but failed to regain the league title.

Arsenal were confirmed as Premier League champions after City were held to a 1-1 draw by Bournemouth on Tuesday, ending Guardiola’s hopes of landing a seventh league crown. The development came after reports earlier in the week said the Spaniard was set to leave at the end of the season.

Statement on departure

In a statement, Guardiola explained his decision and said the timing felt right to him.

Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it’s my time.

He also reflected on his bond with the club and the period he spent in Manchester.

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.

We worked. We suffered. We fought. And we did things our own way. Our way.

Guardiola had remained guarded when asked about his future earlier in the week, before City’s title challenge was formally ended 24 hours later.

End of a trophy-laden era

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach leaves behind a record that places his City spell among the most decorated managerial reigns in the English game. Since arriving at the Etihad Stadium in 2016, he has overseen sustained domestic success and also guided the club to Champions League glory.

Although City did not reclaim the Premier League this season, they still finished the campaign with the domestic cup double. The league title, however, slipped away after the draw at Bournemouth handed the advantage to Arsenal.

News of Guardiola’s expected exit had first emerged on Monday. At that stage, he did not publicly reveal his plans, and uncertainty over his future remained until the club’s announcement on Friday.

Successor speculation

Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who previously served on Guardiola’s coaching staff at Manchester City, has been widely reported as the leading candidate to replace him at the Etihad.

Guardiola’s departure will mark the end of an era for City after a decade in which the club became a dominant force in English football under his leadership. His spell in charge combined major silverware with a style and influence that made his reign one of the most notable in the modern game.