Manchester City announced that Pep Guardiola will leave his role as manager after the final match of the 2025-26 Premier League season against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium on May 24, 2026 [1, 2, 3]. The club held an emotional farewell as City lost 2-1 in Guardiola’s last game in charge [1, 3].
Guardiola has managed Manchester City since 2016. Over 10 years, he led the club to win 20 major trophies, including six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups, and the club’s first-ever Champions League title in 2023 [1, 2, 4]. His tenure included milestone achievements such as the record-breaking 100-point Premier League season in 2017-18 and four consecutive league titles from 2021 to 2024 [1, 4].
Guardiola said the decision to leave came from a feeling that his energy was fading and he could no longer meet the job’s demands. “Absolutely. What I have to have, I will not have. I feel I will not have the energy that is required, (games) every three days, the expectations to fight for titles, to be in front of the players. I know myself,” he explained [5]. When asked for reasons, Guardiola said, “Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it’s my time,” adding he wants his successor to be authentic: “It doesn’t work to copy and paste in this kind of job. You have to be unique, natural and yourself and the new manager will be himself” [1, 6].
Guardiola said he regrets letting goalkeeper Joe Hart leave in 2018, calling it his biggest managerial regret at Manchester City [7]. Reflecting on his impact, former Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel called Guardiola “one of the very, very, very best” managers across leagues [8]. Club owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan praised Guardiola for leaving “an indelible imprint on the DNA of the Club. One that is borne more from how he won than from the many trophies he lifted” [8].
The club said Guardiola will remain with the City Football Group as a global ambassador after stepping down as manager [1, 9]. Enzo Maresca is the leading candidate to replace him at City [1, 6].
