Pep Guardiola is widely expected to step down as Manchester City manager at the end of the current Premier League season, bringing to a close one of the most dominant coaching tenures in English football history. The 54-year-old Spaniard, who joined City in 2016, is reported to be planning an announcement shortly after the club's final league match against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.
Guardiola's decade at City has been remarkable by any measure. He has guided the club to six Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League, three FA Cups and five League Cups — a total of 20 trophies. The most recent came just days ago, when City defeated Chelsea in the FA Cup final. A trophy parade through Manchester is planned for Monday, an event that could now double as a public farewell for the manager.
Despite holding a contract that runs until June 2027, preparations for his departure are said to be well advanced. When pressed about the reports after the FA Cup final, Guardiola deflected: "What rumours?" before ending the interview with a breezy "Have a lovely evening." The club itself has not commented on the speculation. Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca — who previously worked under Guardiola at City and recently led Chelsea to FIFA Club World Cup glory — is considered the leading candidate to succeed him. Former City defender Vincent Kompany, currently managing Bayern Munich in Germany, has also been mentioned.
City are not yet done with this season's title race. They must win their remaining two league games, beginning at Bournemouth on Tuesday, and hope that Arsenal — currently leading the table — drop points at Crystal Palace to have any chance of claiming a seventh league crown under Guardiola.
Guardiola's potential exit marks the end of an era not just for City but for English football more broadly. His tenure transformed the club from perennial also-rans into a European superpower, reshaped tactical thinking across the game and set a standard of sustained success that will be difficult for any successor to match.