‘Deep inside, I know it’s my time’: Pep Guardiola confirms Manchester City exit after historic decade

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has announced he will leave the club at the end of the season, bringing down the curtain on a historic decade that reshaped both Manchester City and modern English football.

The 55-year-old Spaniard will take charge of City for the final time against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, ending a trophy-laden spell that delivered 20 major honours, including six Premier League titles and the club’s maiden UEFA Champions League crown in 2023.

Advertisement

Since arriving in 2016, Guardiola transformed City into one of Europe’s most dominant teams, building an era defined by relentless success, tactical innovation and domestic dominance.

Despite stepping away from the dugout, Guardiola will remain associated with the City Football Group as a Global Ambassador, where he will continue contributing through technical guidance and special projects across the group’s clubs.

Explaining his decision, Guardiola said the timing simply felt right.

“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 were, I would be here,” Guardiola said in a statement released by the club.

The legendary coach also reflected emotionally on his connection with Manchester and the culture that shaped his journey at City.

“This is a city built from work. From graft. We worked. We suffered. We fought. And we did things our own way,” he added.

Guardiola leaves behind a legacy that redefined English football, with his City side widely regarded as one of the greatest club teams of the modern era. Across his decade in charge, he was named Premier League Manager of the Season five times and won the League Managers Association Manager of the Year award on three occasions.

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak paid tribute to Guardiola’s impact, describing the past decade as transformative for the club.

“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,” Al Mubarak said.

The announcement comes just days after City’s Premier League title hopes officially ended following a draw against Bournemouth, which handed Arsenal their first league crown in 22 years.