- Pep Guardiola announces his departure
- Delivers emotional speech paying tribute to club
- Man City to have new manager next season
Pep Guardiola has confirmed what we already expected – he will be leaving Manchester City after Sunday’s game.
The manager will take to his dugout one last time, and then his decade-long spell at Man City will come to an end.
Over the course of this period, Guardiola has lifted 20 pieces of silverware, two of which have been won this season.
But now, the legendary coach will look ahead to what comes next, as he announces his departure from the club he has grown to adore so much.
Pep Guardiola announces his Man City exit
Speaking to Man City’s official website, Guardiola paid tribute to the club’s supporters, as well as the city of Manchester as a whole.
“When I arrived, my first interview was with Noel Gallagher. I walked out thinking, ‘Okay… Noel is here? This will be fun,’” Guardiola said.
“And what a time we have had together. Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it’s my time. Nothing is eternal, if it was, I would be here. Eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City.
“This is a city built from work. From graft. You see it in the colour of the bricks. From people who clocked in early, stayed late. The factories. The Pankhursts. The unions. The music.
Simply the Industrial Revolution and how this changed the world. And I think I grew to understand that, and my teams did too,” he continued.
“We worked. We suffered. We fought. And we did things our own way. Our way.
"What a time we have had together." 🩵 pic.twitter.com/WpkFecBYT4
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 22, 2026
“Hard work comes in many forms. Trips to Bournemouth, when we lost the Premier League, and you were there. Trips to Istanbul, when you were there, too.
“Remember, the Manchester Arena attack, when this city showed the world what strength actually looks like? Not anger. Not fear. Just love. Community. Togetherness. A city united.”
Turning his attention to Man City’s supporters, Guardiola said: “Remember, losing my mum during COVID and feeling this club carry me through it.
“The fans, the staff, the people of Manchester, you gave me strength when I needed it most. Cris, my kids, my whole family, you were there as always. Khaldoon, you were there too.
“Players don’t forget – every single instant, moment, me, my staff, this club, everything. What we have done, we have done it for all of you. And you have been just exceptional. You don’t know it yet, but you are leaving a legacy.
“So as my time comes to an end, be happy. Oasis are back again. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for trusting me. Thank you for pushing me. Thank you for loving me.
“Tony Walsh said in his unforgettable poem this is the place. I’m sorry, Tony: this is my place. Noel…I was right. It has been so f****** fun.
“Love you all.”
Guardiola is the greatest Man City manager of all-time
It is hard to find an individual moment which will ever top Sergio Aguero’s Premier League title-winning goal against QPR.
However, when it comes to lasting memories being consistently created year-on-year, there has been no better time to be a Man City supporter than the Guardiola era.
The manager needed a full first season to get going, but after that he launched the club towards a number of successful campaigns.
Guardiola’s record in the late ‘10s was unbelievable, and he would eventually go on to turn City into European champions in 2023.
This is a leader who has taken Man City from being a competitive team to one who completely dominate.
People often talk about how much he was pushed by Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, but the two are not really comparable.
Guardiola won more Premier League titles and more trophies in general. Other than Sir Alex Ferguson, there has been no manager to reach his level in English football.
What next for City?
Enzo Maresca has agreed to join Man City, so it should not be long until he is announced as the club’s new manager.
Guardiola is a tough act to follow, but Maresca has been successful so far in his relatively short managerial career.
Last year, the Italian lifted the UEFA Conference League trophy, and followed this up with a Club World Cup triumph.
And before his time at Chelsea, Maresca won the Championship with Leicester City, edging Ipswich Town by a single point.
Living up to Guardiola’s standards will be some challenge, and like the man himself, Maresca is going to need time to bring success at City.
But ultimately, he knows the club well and understands exactly what is required. So hopefully the club have made the right decision.
