The era of Pep Guardiola in it Manchester City officially came to an end after ten seasons that completely transformed the contemporary history of the English institution. The Catalan coach confirmed that he will leave the “Citizens” bench at the end of the season 2025-2026, closing a cycle that turned Manchester United’s eternal rival into a dominant power in European and world football.
Although for months there were rumors about a possible continuity, the departure was confirmed by both the coach and the English club. Guardiola explained that his decision responds to a personal need to close a stage and take a break after almost two consecutive decades directing in the European elite. “Nothing is eternal; if it were, I would be here,” said the Spaniard in one of his farewell messages, while also ensuring that “what will be eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories and the love.”
According to different versions published in the British media, Guardiola’s future is not yet completely defined. The coach assured that he has no immediate intentions of directing again and that he will prioritize resting and spending time with his family. However, he did not rule out the possibility of assuming command of a national team at some point. Various sports publications indicated that the coach is interested in a possible experience in international football, and it even emerged that he considers a possible cycle in the England team attractive, although there would be no specific negotiations.
Guardiola’s arrival at Manchester City, in July 2016, had generated enormous expectations in England. After revolutionizing FC Barcelona and conquering Europe with Bayern Munich, the coach landed in Manchester with the mission of turning City into the great dominator of the continent. The leadership headed by Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Ferran Soriano He opted for a comprehensive project designed around the Spaniard’s football philosophy, with heavy investment in infrastructure, signings and institutional development. From the beginning, Guardiola was expected to give the club a recognizable and globally competitive football identity.
In his first months, Guardiola encountered difficulties in adapting to English football, but he quickly consolidated a dominant structure. The 2017-2018 season marked City’s first big coup under his leadership: the team won the Premier League with 100 points, a historical record for the competition, in addition to breaking records for goals, victories and difference over their pursuers. From there began a hegemony rarely seen in England.
During his tenure, Guardiola won six Premier League titles, including a historic run of four consecutive championships, something never before achieved in English football. He also won five League Cups, three FA Cups and three Community Shields. On an international level, he won the first UEFA Champions League in Manchester City’s history in 2023, also crowning the memorable treble of that season. He later added the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup, completing a total of 20 official titles in ten years.
Beyond the trophies, Guardiola left an enormous tactical and cultural influence within English football. His proposal based on possession, high pressing, construction from the bottom and the multifunctionality of the players ended up modifying the way in which many Premier League clubs planned their sporting projects. Even rival coaches publicly recognized the dimension of his legacy. “Ten years ago no one would have believed that we could win 20 trophies playing such entertaining and high-quality football,” said Soriano, executive director of the City Football Group. For his part, Khaldoon Al Mubarak stated that Guardiola “not only improved Manchester City, but also football.”
The final farewell took place at the Etihad Stadium during the last match of the season against Aston Villa. Giant flags, chants and messages appeared there that defined the Spaniard as a “revolutionary who made history.” The club also confirmed permanent tributes, including a statue and the naming of a stand in honor of the Catalan coach. Guardiola, visibly moved, thanked the fans for their affection and said he felt like “another Mancunian.”
One of the most emotional moments of the farewell was the spot published by Manchester City to pay tribute to Guardiola’s decade. The video took up an advertisement recorded ten years ago, when the coach had just arrived at the club. In that original piece, Guardiola shared a car trip with a little fan named Braydon Benta red-haired boy who was a City fan and asked the coach if he could take the team “to the top.” A decade later, the club recreated exactly the same scene: the boy, now a teenager, got back into the car with Guardiola to remember the path he had traveled and thank him for having changed the history of the institution.
In the first spot, the young fan told the new coach: “Can you make us win everything?” Guardiola, laughing, responded that he would try. Ten years later, during the new version of the commercial, Braydon Bent thanked him for keeping that promise and expressed that “I never imagined experiencing something like this.” Guardiola, excited, responded: “Thank you for being here all these years,” before hugging the young fan.
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