Man City confirm Guardiola exit

Manchester City have confirmed that manager Pep Guardiola will leave the club this summer.

During Guardiola’s ten-year tenure City have won the treble, four Premier League titles in a row, recorded a record 100 points in a season and enjoyed countless other triumphs. Across his decade with the club, the Catalan has led the side to 20 major honours in total. He will now step down as manager.

“What a time we have had together,” said Guardiola in a statement. “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.

“We worked, we suffered, we fought. And we did things our own way. Our way.”

City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak added: “Over the last ten years honesty and trust have formed the bedrock on which we have navigated every situation together with Pep – always understanding that we could find the right answer together. Today the right answer is for Pep to finish his journey as the Manager of Manchester City. 

“There have been points along the way when he could have stopped, and it would have been enough. Somehow, Pep always found new energy and pushed on, finding different and innovative ways to continue winning and delivering success. 

“As a result, the Club has a decade of memories and success to be forever grateful for, and much more than that, an evolution that cannot be undone. 

“The unique approach that he brings to his coaching has allowed him to constantly challenge the accepted truths of our game. It is the reason that in the last ten years he has not only made Manchester City better – he has also made football better.” 

The club have already confirmed that they will commemorate the departing manager with a stand named in his honour. The North Stand will be renamed The Pep Guardiola Stand and is expected to be open for the first time against Aston Villa following expansion work this season.