Josep Guardiola announces departure from Manchester City (Image: Getty)
Josep Guardiola has announced his departure from Manchester City, bringing an end to an illustrious 10-year spell at the Etihad Stadium. The Catalan manager delivered 20 trophies during his 10-year stay at East Manchester, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League as part of the Treble.
Guardiola also became the first manager in English football history to win four consecutive Premier League titles between the 2020/21 and 2023/24 seasons. The former Barcelona midfielder, who turned City into one of Europe’s biggest clubs, will be remembered as one of the greatest managers in English football history.
Guardiola has one year left on his contract but will leave City after Sunday’s game against Aston Villa. “My first interview when I arrived was with Noel Gallagher. I walked out thinking, ‘Okay… Noel is here? This is going to be fun,'” Guardiola said in a statement.
“And what a time we’ve had together. Don’t ask me why I’m leaving. There’s no reason, but deep down I know it’s my time. There’s no such thing as forever. If it were forever, I’d be here. Forever is the feelings, the people, the memories and the love I have for Manchester City.”
“This is a city built by labor. It was built by grafting. You can see it in the color of the bricks. It was built by people who went to work early and stayed late. Factories, Pankhurst, trade unions, music. It’s just the industrial revolution and how it changed the world. And I think I’ve come to understand that, and so have my team.”
“We worked, we suffered, we fought. And we did things our way. Our way.
“Hard work comes in many forms, the trip to Bournemouth when we lost in the Premier League and when you were there, and the trip to Istanbul when you were there.
“Remember the Manchester Arena attack? This city showed the world what strength really looks like. Not anger. Not fear. Just love. Community. Unity. A city coming together.”
“Remember, after losing my mother during the coronavirus pandemic, I felt that this club supported me. The fans, the staff, the people of Manchester, you gave me strength when I needed it most. Chris, the children, the whole family, you were there as always. Khaldoon, you were there too.”
“The players haven’t forgotten. Every moment, every moment, myself, the staff, this club, everything. What we’ve done is for all of you. And you’ve been just extraordinary. You don’t know it yet, but you’re leaving a legacy.”
“So my time is coming to an end, but be happy, Oasis will be back again.
“Thank you everyone for trusting me.
“Thank you for pushing me.
“Thank you for loving me.
“Tony Walsh said in his haunting poem that this is the place. Sorry, Tony, this is the place for me.
“It was a lot of fun.
Josep Guardiola joined Manchester City in 2016 (Image: Getty)
Josep Guardiola won his first league title in 2018 with 100 points. (Image: Getty)
Josep Guardiola won the Champions League with Manchester City in 2023 (Image: Getty)
Although we have to wait for an official announcement, Guardiola is expected to be replaced in the City dugout by Enzo Maresca. The Italian worked under Guardiola and was part of the coaching team that helped them win the 2023 Treble.
By the end of Sunday’s game against Villa, Guardiola will have managed 593 games for City over the last 10 years, averaging 2.27 points per game. Meanwhile, the 55-year-old has won a trophy on average every 30 games as City manager.
