Manchester City will honor Pep Guardiola as he leaves the Etihad after a silverware-laden decade
Pep Guardiola is set to leave Manchester City at the end of this season (Image: Adam Davy/PA Wire)
Manchester City are to pay tribute to Josep Guardiola by renaming their North Stand after him, with talks reportedly already underway regarding this weekend’s final day of the season. Supporters have expressed their condolences following reports that manager Guardiola will leave the club this summer.
The Spaniard will oversee City’s final two Premier League games, against Bournemouth on Tuesday and Aston Villa on Sunday, before departing from the Etihad. The 55-year-old, who still has a year left on his contract, won the FA Cup with a 1-0 win over Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday.
City remain in the title race but must win their remaining two games and will hope Arsenal drop points against Crystal Palace. During his time in charge, Guardiola won six Premier League titles, including an unprecedented four in a row.
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The Sun reports that City are in talks to name the North Stand after Guardiola, with the redeveloped stand set to be fully reopened on Sunday ahead of the final game against Villa. Club legends such as Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne have already been immortalized with statues outside the Etihad.
But Guardiola insisted he didn’t need a lasting tribute after winning his 20th trophy in 10 years. “I have no idea about that. Honestly, they don’t need to do anything,” he said.
“What’s important in our lives is when we can look back and say, ‘Wow, I see you with a big smile on your face, that’s good.’ And Bernardo (Silva) can feel it, John (Stones) can feel it. We talked about it in our last days and about (what) we lived.”
“So when I’m an old grandpa and I look back, I can laugh at the memories. That’s the most important thing in life. No matter what happens at this point in the season, I’ll extend my contract for another three years and then I’ll look back and think it was really good.”
“That’s the most important thing so far. I’m sure most of us who are living through this time are feeling that.”
Guardiola’s achievements will be showcased on Monday in an open-top bus parade through Manchester with his players, women’s teams and academy teams.
Former Leicester and Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is the frontrunner to succeed the Spaniard. He worked as one of Guardiola’s assistants during the 2022-23 season before taking over as Leicester manager.
Guardiola joined City in 2016 after spending four years at Barcelona and three years at Bayern Munich. During his tenure, he delivered the club’s first and only Champions League crown, six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups and three Community Shields.
City need to beat Bournemouth to advance to the final day of the title race, with Arsenal hoping to beat Palace at Selhurst Park on May 24.
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