Pep Guardiola confirmed on Friday that he is leaving Manchester City, ending a 10-year tenure that reshaped English and European football. Guardiola, with a year left on his contract, will manage his final game on Sunday against Aston Villa.
"Don't ask me the reasons I'm leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it's my time," Guardiola said. "Nothing is eternal... Eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City."
City announced Guardiola will become a global ambassador. Enzo Maresca, former Chelsea manager and ex-Guardiola assistant, is the leading candidate to succeed him.
Since 2016, Guardiola led the Abu Dhabi-backed club to six Premier League titles and the 2023 Champions League-matching Manchester United's 1999 treble. He won 17 major trophies at City, including a domestic double this season.
City became the first team to win four-straight English league titles and the first to amass 100 points in a season (2018). His possession-based style became widely imitated across England.
Despite success, Guardiola faced scrutiny over 100+ financial charges against City. He said he was "fully convinced" the club is innocent. "We worked. We suffered. We fought. And we did things our own way," he told fans.