Pep Guardiola has confirmed he will leave Manchester City after Sunday's Premier League finale against Aston Villa, bringing an end to a decade that saw the club dominate English football. The 55-year-old Spaniard said his decision was driven by a recognition that the energy required to continue at the highest level had begun to fade.
"Absolutely," Guardiola said when asked if he was running out of energy. "I feel I will not have the energy that is required, every three days, the expectations to fight for titles, to be in front of the players. I know myself."
Guardiola delivered the news to his players on Friday morning, admitting the moment left him overwhelmed. "The speech was a disaster. I was so nervous, more than ever," he said. He told them he had to be honest with himself and the club that had given him everything.
The manager said it was time for a change, not because of a loss of ambition but because cycles naturally run their course. "It is time. It's 10 years," he said. "It's not good in an organisation to have people for many, many years. It's good to shake, to move, new faces."
Looking ahead, Guardiola plans to step away from football for the foreseeable future. "Now rest. No plans for training for a while," he said. "I need to step back. This job, every few days, for many, many years, Selhurst Park, Anfield, Madrid, the FA Cup — now I have to live my life."
Guardiola leaves after a season he described as among the most satisfying, having won the FA Cup and League Cup while pushing Arsenal for the title. He expressed gratitude for the support he received, saying, "I cannot be more grateful for the amount of love and affection I had."
