Pep Guardiola will depart Manchester City at the end of the 2025/26 season, bringing to a close a 10-year tenure that transformed the club into the dominant force in English football. The Spaniard announced the news in an emotional video statement, despite having one year remaining on his contract.

"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,"

During his time at the club, Guardiola accumulated 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2023 — a record of silverware without parallel in the modern English game. His final season ended with a cup double, though City narrowly missed out on the Premier League title following a draw at Bournemouth.

A farewell rooted in gratitude

Guardiola's statement ranged from the personal to the poetic, drawing on the history and character of Manchester itself. He referenced the Manchester Arena attack, the city's industrial heritage, and the loss of his mother during the COVID pandemic — a moment he said the club helped carry him through.

"Remember, losing my mum during COVID and feeling this club carry me through it. The fans, the staff, the people of Manchester, you gave me strength when I needed it most."

He closed with a message of warmth and unmistakable wit: "It has been so f****** fun. Love you all."

Ambassador role with City Football Group

Guardiola will not sever ties with the organisation entirely. He is set to take up a position as global ambassador for the City Football Group, providing technical advice to clubs within the group and contributing to specific projects and collaborations.

His exit arrives as Manchester City await the verdict of an independent commission investigating 115 charges of alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules covering the period between 2009 and 2018. The club deny all charges.

A formidable act to follow

Sky Sports analyst Laura Hunter described the coaching vacancy as simultaneously the toughest and most enticing job in football. She drew a comparison to the challenge David Moyes faced when he succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013 — though she noted a critical difference.

Moyes inherited an ageing United squad that had largely run its course. The squad Guardiola leaves behind at City is in a markedly different condition. While club stalwarts Bernardo Silva and John Stones are expected to leave this summer, the core of the group remains young and capable of further improvement.

Hunter pointed to Arne Slot's success at Liverpool as evidence that inheriting a well-constructed squad can accelerate a new manager's impact. Slot won the Premier League in his first season, working with the group Jurgen Klopp had built and primed for success.

The suggestion is clear: whoever walks through the door at Manchester City will be handed the tools to compete at the very highest level — if they can forge their own path from a position of considerable strength.