Pep Guardiola is reportedly set to leave Manchester City at the end of the season, a move that would trigger a seismic shift in the Premier League. The Spanish manager's exit is being reported by the BBC as imminent after Sunday's Premier League finale against Aston Villa, bringing an end to one of the most trophy-laden reigns in English football history after 10 years of dominance at the Etihad Stadium.
A Decade of Dominance
The 55-year-old has captured 17 major trophies, and 20 in all, since taking over in 2016. His haul includes six Premier League titles, with a potential seventh still possible if City can overcome Arsenal in a tense title race. Guardiola also masterminded City's breakthrough in Europe, securing a first Champions League in 2023 by defeating Inter Milan in Istanbul. That triumph marked his third European crown as a manager, following two successes during his legendary stint at Barcelona. His latest trophy came last weekend, as Antoine Semenyo's flicked finish gave City a 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup final, the 19th piece of silverware in Guardiola's tenure and a third FA Cup.
Off-Pitch Challenges
Guardiola's reign has been clouded in recent years by City's legal troubles. In 2023, the club was charged with more than 100 alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules, covering a nine-year period from 2009 to 2018. A hearing led by an independent commission concluded in December 2024, with the outcome expected later this year.
What's Next for Guardiola?
If he does leave, Guardiola is expected to take a break from football, similar to his sabbatical between his stints at Barcelona and Bayern Munich from 2012-13. His time in England has been defined by fierce rivalries, particularly with Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp, including a memorable one-point title victory in 2019 despite Liverpool amassing 97 points. Guardiola also broke the 100-point barrier in the 2018 season, setting a Premier League record, and became the first manager in English football history to win four top-flight titles in a row.
Succession Planning
His reported departure leaves enormous shoes to fill. City are likely to consider numerous candidates, including former assistant boss Enzo Maresca, who is available after leaving Chelsea mid-season despite guiding the Blues to Conference League and Club World Cup titles. Maresca has widely been expected to take the role, but Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany, a City legend as a player under Guardiola, could also theoretically be under consideration.
Ahead of the FA Cup final, when asked whether his tenure at City has been the definition of greatness, Guardiola said: "Yeah, of course, 19 titles in 10 years is not bad. They know they don't need to wait until I'm leaving, they know I have been fun. So 19 titles – fight for 20 in 10 years – it's not bad, honestly."
