OFFICIAL: Guardiola to depart Man City as 10-year reign ends
Manchester City have confirmed that Pep Guardiola will leave the club at the end of the season following his 10-year sojourn at the Etihad.
Guardiola replaced Manuel Pellegrini in 2016, and led the club to an unprecedented 20 trophies during that time.
Guardiola will manage his last game in charge against Aston Villa on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium.
The club also confirmed that Guardiola will continue his relationship with the City Football Group, by taking up a role as a Global Ambassador.
The role will see him giving technical advice to the clubs in the group, working on specific projects and collaborations.
The club announced his departure in a statement on their website on Friday morning, thanking him for his services.
The statement reads: “Pep Guardiola will step down as Manager of Manchester City this summer.
“The Catalan, who joined City in July 2016, has had a transformative effect during his ten years in charge, and will leave having won 20 major trophies – making him the most successful Manager in our history.”
Read Also: How Harry Maguire reacted to omission from World Cup squad
Manchester City Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak showered encomiums on Guardiola for his decade of excellence at the club.
He said: “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.”
Guardiola’s record of six Premier League titles, one UEFA Champions League, three FA Cups, five League Cups, one FIFA Club World Cup, one UEFA Super Cup and three FA Community Shields further established his standing as the club’s greatest coach.
Guardiola led Man City to the League Cup and FA Cup after beating Arsenal and Chelsea respectively in the finals this season.
The Cityzens are set to finish second behind Arsenal in the Premier League.
