Pep Guardiola will leave his role as manager of Manchester City at the end of the season, bringing to a close one of the most successful managerial eras in modern football.
The Premier League champions confirmed Guardiola’s departure on Friday, ending months of speculation about the future of the Spaniard, who transformed City into a dominant force in both English and European football during his decade-long spell at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola, who arrived at City in 2016 from Bayern Munich, leaves as the most decorated manager in the club’s history after winning 20 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and the club’s first UEFA Champions League crown.
Despite stepping down as manager, Guardiola will remain connected to the wider City Football Group in a new role as Global Ambassador, where he is expected to provide technical guidance and support the group’s global football projects.
In an emotional farewell statement released by the club, Guardiola reflected on his years in Manchester and the bond he built with the city and its supporters.
“When I arrived, my first interview was with Noel Gallagher,” Guardiola said. “I walked out thinking, ‘Okay… Noel is here? This will be fun.’ And what a time we have had together.”
The 55-year-old manager insisted his decision was not driven by conflict or exhaustion, but by a personal sense that the moment had come to move on.
“Deep inside, I know it’s my time,” he said. “Nothing is eternal.”
Guardiola also paid tribute to the spirit of Manchester, describing it as a city shaped by hard work, resilience and unity.
“This is a city built from work. From graft. The factories. The unions. The music. Simply the Industrial Revolution and how this changed the world,” he said.
“We worked. We suffered. We fought. And we did things our own way.”
The Spaniard recalled several defining moments during his stay, including the club’s support following the death of his mother during the COVID-19 pandemic and the solidarity shown across Manchester after the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.
“Not anger. Not fear. Just love. Community. Togetherness. A city united,” he said.
Club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak hailed Guardiola for redefining both Manchester City and the game itself.
“Pep has not only made Manchester City better – he has also made football better,” Al Mubarak said.
“There have been moments where he could have stopped and it would still have been enough. But somehow he always found fresh energy and new ideas to keep winning.”
Chief executive Ferran Soriano described Guardiola’s legacy as “extraordinary,” praising both his achievements and personal qualities.
“We have witnessed his greatness and dedication, but also enjoyed his companionship, his friendship and humanity,” Soriano said.
Guardiola’s reign at City reshaped English football through an aggressive possession-based style that produced sustained domestic dominance and unprecedented consistency.
Under him, City became the first English top-flight side to reach 100 Premier League points in a single season during the 2017/18 campaign. He later guided the club to a historic treble in 2022/23, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League in the same season.
The following campaign saw City clinch an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title, further cementing Guardiola’s status among football’s greatest managers.
His final season in charge also ended with silverware after City added the FA Cup and Carabao Cup to their collection.
In total, Guardiola won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups, one Champions League, one FIFA Club World Cup, one UEFA Super Cup and three Community Shields during his spell in Manchester.
He was also named Premier League Manager of the Season five times and received the League Managers Association Manager of the Year award on three occasions.
Beyond football, Guardiola was honoured by University of Manchester in 2025 with an honorary degree in recognition of his contribution to the city.
He will take charge of his final Manchester City match against Aston Villa, closing the curtain on a managerial era widely regarded as one of the greatest in English football history.