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One of the most dominant coaching runs in global soccer history is done, at least for now, leaving widespread effects across the sport.
Manchester City and its longtime manager Pep Guardiola both confirmed Friday he will leave the post after the season concludes on Sunday.
Guardiola’s 10-year tenure included 20 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and an unprecedented four straight between 2021 and 2024, one Champions League title, and three FA Cup wins.
In 2023 alone, the club had a dominant five-trophy run that included wins in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup—even surpassing top rival Manchester United’s achievements in 1999 that included a treble win of the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup.
During that gaudy Man City run, Guardiola’s possession- and precision-based tactics were widely copied across English soccer. His fame was such that he appeared as himself in the third season of Ted Lasso, produced primarily for U.S. audiences. Man City also cashed in heavily during the extended on-field success, rising to sixth in the latest edition of the Deloitte Football Money League of the world’s top-grossing soccer teams.
But the last two years brought a slightly different situation for Man City.
The 2024–25 season saw the club finish in third place in the Premier League behind Liverpool and Arsenal. Despite mounting a late challenge for the title this season, they will finish second behind Arsenal.
“Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving,” Guardiola said Friday in a statement released by the club. “There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it’s my time. Nothing is eternal.”
There was a year left on Guardiola’s contract, but he took advantage of an exit clause in the deal to leave early. He will transition to a new role as a global ambassador for the club, and provide technical advice to City Football Group, Man City’s ownership entity led by the Abu Dhabi United Group.
Man City also said Friday it will rename its newly developed and expanded north stand at Etihad Stadium to the Pep Guardiola Stand.
Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who has worked under Guardiola at Man City, is the frontrunner to succeed him.
Bigger Looming Issues
The coaching shift is happening as the club still awaits findings in a long-running inquiry about alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations between 2009 and 2018; Guardiola arrived in 2016.
After a lengthy set of proceedings that ended in late 2024, a verdict still has not been delivered. The club has consistently denied any wrongdoing, while any finding of guilt would sour the historic run of success.
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