By Kwame Bediako
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will officially leave the club at the end of the 2025–26 season, with the club confirming his impending exit on Friday, May 22, following a 1–1 draw with AFC Bournemouth that handed the Premier League title to Arsenal. This result sealed the news that had been widely speculated in the days after City’s failed title‑defence.
Guardiola’s tenure at City
Guardiola has spent 10 seasons at Manchester City, after previous spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, winning 20 major trophies, including multiple Premier League titles, domestic cups, and the coveted UEFA Champions League.
His final senior honours at City came this season with Carabao Cup and FA Cup successes, capping a decade in which he transformed the club into a sustained power in English and European football.
Emotional farewell message
In his club‑media address, Guardiola described his time at City as “What a time we have had together,” saying it simply “is my time” to step away, even though he resisted giving a single specific reason.
He thanked the club, players, staff and fans for trusting, pushing and loving him, closing with: “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for trusting me. Thank you for pushing me. Thank you for loving me. Love you all.”
Guardiola’s departure marks the end of a defining era for Manchester City, with the club now set to appoint a new manager as they look to continue their domestic and continental ambitions.
