Manchester City manager Josep Guardiola is reportedly set to step down as manager at the end of this season. The 55-year-old will end his 10-year spell at the Etihad Stadium after Sunday’s final game of the season against Aston Villa.
According to the Daily Mail, City has started telling its sponsor partners that a decision is “imminent”. The news is said to have been an “open secret” for some time for those close to Guardiola.
Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca and Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Compay have both been linked with the role in recent weeks. However, former Blues manager Maresca is understood to be the overwhelming favorite, having worked under Guardiola at City earlier in his career.
The newspaper said the announcement will be made to coincide with the club’s open-top bus parade celebrating Guardiola’s arrival at City on Sunday. His future at the club has been a topic of discussion all season, with Guardiola repeatedly referring to his current contract, which expires in the summer of 2027.
However, it is thought that he will end his tenure at the club’s helm a year early, although it is possible that he will remain at the club in some capacity.
Last weekend’s FA Cup victory over Chelsea took Guardiola’s total trophy haul to 20 during his time at the club. That number could rise to 21 if City win the Premier League title at the end of this season.
Since joining Manchester City in 2016, Guardiola has won six Premier League titles, including an unprecedented four in a row, and led City to their first-ever Champions League title. Maresca was part of Guardiola’s coaching team from 2022 to 2023, before taking charge of Championship club Leicester City, before winning promotion with the Foxes before moving to Chelsea.
The Italian manager won the Conference League and Club World Cup in 2025 and will leave Stamford Bridge in early 2026 after reportedly holding talks with City to replace Guardiola.
