Guardiola to depart Manchester City after decade of dominance

Manchester City have confirmed that manager Pep Guardiola will depart the club following the final match of the 2025-26 season. The 55-year-old’s tenure, which began in February 2016 when he replaced Manuel Pellegrini, has been defined by unprecedented success, including six Premier League titles and 17 major trophies. His final game in charge will be against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium.

The announcement comes three days after Arsenal were crowned 2025-26 Premier League champions, ending City’s four-season winning streak. Guardiola stated that the decision was internal and definitive. "Don't ask me the reasons I'm leaving," he said. "There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it's my time. Nothing is eternal, if it was, I would be here."

Guardiola’s departure follows reports from BBC Sport indicating that City were preparing for his exit a year before the end of his contract. This strategic planning occurred despite the manager signing a two-year contract extension in November 2024, which was set to run until the end of the 2026-27 season.

Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who previously worked under Guardiola at City, is the frontrunner to replace him. Guardiola will remain with the City Football Group in a new capacity as a global ambassador, a move the club described as continuing his relationship with the organisation after a "transformative effect" on the team.

During his decade in charge, Guardiola led City to become the only team to reach 100 points in a Premier League season, achieving this in 2017-18 when they also set the record for most goals in a campaign with 106. In 2022-23, City became only the second English team, after Manchester United in 1998-99, to complete the Treble.

The tenure was not without historical anomalies, as Guardiola finished the 2016-17 and 2024-25 campaigns without a trophy, marking the first time in his career he went trophyless in a season. However, his side later became the first team to win the English league title four seasons in a row, concluding with the 2023-24 campaign.