Guardiola’s tenure at Manchester City nears end as Arsenal claim Premier League title
The Manchester City manager has one year remaining on his contract and will discuss his future with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak after the season concludes.
Manchester City’s hold on the Premier League title was severed following a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth, a result that handed the championship to Arsenal and ended the north London club’s 22-year wait for top-flight glory. The sporting outcome arrived within 24 hours of reports confirming that manager Pep Guardiola is set to depart after a decade-long tenure, marking a significant shift in the governance and leadership structure of the club.
Guardiola, who has one year remaining on his contract, stated he would discuss his future with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak once the season concludes. The manager described the timing of the departure speculation as detrimental, noting that announcing such matters during the competition is a bad result. He emphasised that his immediate focus remains on the final matches, including the upcoming FA Cup final and the Premier League game against Aston Villa.
The draw at the Vitality Stadium extinguished City’s title hopes, leaving Arsenal with an unassailable lead and one game remaining. Guardiola congratulated Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta on their achievement, acknowledging the effort and work put in by the backroom staff. Arteta, a former City assistant, secured the club’s first title since the 2004 season, ending a six-year trophy drought.
Enzo Maresca is expected to succeed Guardiola, with succession talks understood to be at an advanced stage. The Italian manager, who previously served as Guardiola’s assistant during the 2023 Treble season, is poised to take over a squad that has undergone significant reshaping in recent transfer windows. It is also understood that Maresca’s former assistant, ex-City goalkeeper Willy Caballero, will join his staff.
Former City players and pundits have highlighted the magnitude of the transition. Former keeper Shay Given compared the potential upheaval to the period following Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure from Manchester United in 2013, though he suggested the process at City may be less volatile due to the presence of director of football Hugo Viana. Meanwhile, fans displayed a ‘Pep Stay’ bedsheet and chanted for the manager to remain, before Guardiola made a hasty exit down the tunnel after the match.
