‘Memories will last’: Pep Guardiola to step down as Manchester City manager after ten years of dominance

ByTech Word News

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest at Etihad Stadium on March 4, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo/Getty Images) Pep Guardiola has confirmed he will leave Manchester City at the end of the season, ending a decade-long spell at the club.Guardiola, who has one year left on his contract, will take charge of his final game against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.“Don’t ask me the reasons why I’m leaving. There’s no reason, but deep down I know it’s my time,” Guardiola said.“Nothing is forever, if it was I would be here. The feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City will be forever.”Manchester City said Guardiola will take on the role of global ambassador after stepping down as manager. Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who previously worked as Guardiola’s assistant at City, is believed to be the leading candidate to replace him.Since joining City in 2016, Guardiola has guided the club to six Premier League titles and their first ever UEFA Champions League title in 2023.He has won 17 major trophies with City, including the League Cup and FA Cup this season. Guardiola won 35 major trophies as a coach with FC Barcelona, ​​Bayern Munich and Manchester City.The 55-year-old arrived in England after successful spells with Barcelona and Bayern Munich. During his time at City, he helped the club win four consecutive Premier League titles between 2021 and 2024.In 2023, City completed the treble by winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, becoming only the second English club since Manchester United in 1999 to do so.Guardiola’s rivalry with former Liverpool FC manager Jurgen Klopp has become one of the main stories of the Premier League era.His style of football based on possession and playing from the back influenced football in England at various levels of the game.Several coaches who worked under Guardiola went on to manage top clubs. Mikel Arteta began his senior coaching career as Guardiola’s assistant at City. Former City captain Vincent Kompany currently manages Bayern Munich, while Xabi Alonso, now Chelsea manager, also worked under Guardiola at Bayern.Off the pitch, Guardiola has spoken out publicly on political issues including Catalan independence and the war in Gaza.He was fined in 2018 after wearing a yellow ribbon in support of jailed Catalan independence leaders, breaking the Football Association’s rules on political symbols.Earlier this year, Guardiola attended a pro-Palestinian charity event in Barcelona wearing a keffiyeh and urged people not to ignore the suffering in Gaza.Manchester City missed out on the Premier League title to Arsenal FC this season, but Guardiola leaves as one of the most successful managers in English football history.Guardiola has often spoken of the influence of the late Dutch great Johan Cruyff, who coached Barcelona’s “Dream Team” and played a major role in shaping Guardiola’s footballing philosophy.“No one is like Johan,” said Guardiola. “You say that, it’s a great compliment, but no one is like him, the charisma, the personality.“He changed the mentality of two clubs – Ajax and Barcelona – as a player and as a manager with a charisma that is impossible to imitate.”