Guardiola’s Manchester City tenure concludes with 20-trophy legacy and star-studded farewell
The 55-year-old’s decade-long reign ends with a formal send-off attended by 19,000 supporters, following a parade of the club’s men’s, women’s, and academy teams.
Pep Guardiola has formally concluded his decade-long tenure as Manchester City manager, a period defined by the acquisition of 20 trophies and a significant shift in the club’s institutional landscape. The departure was marked by a farewell event at the Co-Op Live arena, attended by 19,000 supporters, which served as the culmination of celebrations following a parade of the men’s, women’s, and academy teams.
Basketball legend Michael Jordan led a group of high-profile figures to pay tribute to the departing manager via a video message. Jordan, who won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls, acknowledged Guardiola’s keen interest in golf and basketball. "Enjoy your retirement. Good luck on the links and keep them straight," Jordan said, adding that he wanted to congratulate Guardiola on an "unbelievable career."
The event featured surprise appearances from former City captain Vincent Kompany, who now manages Bayern Munich, and midfielder Jack Grealish, who recently completed a season-long loan spell at Everton. Their presence was joined by video messages from British golfer Tommy Fleetwood, who called Guardiola a friend, and veteran manager Neil Warnock, who described the Spaniard as "top of the pile."
Guardiola’s final match in charge was a 2-1 home defeat to Aston Villa, a game in which he was visibly emotional. The subsequent parade saw thousands of fans line the streets of Manchester. During the pre-event festivities, City women’s striker Khadija Shaw announced a new four-year contract, signalling the club’s intent to maintain stability across its operations despite the managerial change.
On stage, Guardiola’s three children helped present the 20 trophies won under his tenure. Guardiola gave a final interview with Oasis star Noel Gallagher, expressing deep gratitude to chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and the fans. Tributes were also paid to departing players Bernardo Silva and John Stones, with striker Erling Haaland praising them as "amazing footballers but even better people deep down."
