Manchester City confirms Guardiola's departure.
Spanish coach Pep Guardiola has put an end to his trophy-laden career with Manchester City, which spanned a decade during which he won 20 titles since 2016, following the end of this weekend, as announced on Friday by the second place team in the English Premier League.
Guardiola (55 years old), who will lead City for the last time against Aston Villa on Sunday, said, “Deep down, I know the time has come” to leave, confirming that he will take on the role of ambassador for the City Football Group.
He added, “What a wonderful time we had together!”
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach continued, “Don’t ask me about the reasons for my departure. There is no specific reason, but deep down I know the time has come.”
He added, “Nothing lasts forever, and if it did, I would have stayed here. What will remain forever is the feeling, the people, the memories, and the love I have for Manchester City.”
Reports first revealed on Monday that Guardiola was close to leaving City.
Guardiola refrained from disclosing his future after his team lost the Premier League title to Arsenal just one day later.
It is widely expected that Italian Enzo Maresca, Guardiola's former assistant at City, will take over the team at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola's tenure at City included 6 league titles, a Champions League title, 3 FA Cups, 5 League Cups, and 3 Community Shields. He also won the Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup once.
Guardiola arrived in England as one of the most decorated coaches in Europe. His four-year coaching period with his home club Barcelona from 2008 to 2012 captivated fans worldwide, as he won two Champions League titles and three La Liga titles. He added three more league titles during three seasons with Bayern Munich.
His coaching period was expected to be short when he was recruited by Manchester City, but his impact changed the face of English football at all levels over the past decade.
With significant financial backing from the Abu Dhabi royal family, City emerged from under the shadow of local rival Manchester United to become the dominant force in the league.
Guardiola made history by achieving numerous records, including earning 100 points in the Premier League to win his first title in 2018, and winning four consecutive titles between 2021 and 2024.
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