Pep Guardiola has confirmed he will leave Manchester City at the end of the season, bringing an end to a decade-long tenure that yielded 17 major trophies. The 55-year-old manager revealed he is stepping down due to declining energy levels and plans to take an extended break from coaching.
Guardiola stated he will not return to management 'for a while,' dismissing suggestions he might be back within months. 'I need to step back, I will not train for a while,' he said. 'It has been 17 or 18 years every three days with people demanding trebles and Premier Leagues and I need to breathe a little bit and relax.'
In recognition of his achievements, Manchester City will rename the Etihad Stadium's extended North Stand the Pep Guardiola Stand, which will open on Sunday for the final home game against Aston Villa. A statue of Guardiola will also be erected on the approach to the stand. The manager, whose 94-year-old father will attend the match, described the honour as 'incredible.'
Guardiola's trophy haul at City includes six Premier League titles, four Carabao Cups, two FA Cups, and the club's first Champions League in 2023, part of a treble-winning season. He also led City to a record fourth consecutive league title this campaign. His final silverware came in last Saturday's 1-0 FA Cup final victory over Chelsea.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss will take on an ambassadorial role within the City Football Group after leaving. 'I would love to continue to be part of this club,' he said. 'I will take zero decisions but to be part of the club if they need me to represent them.'
Former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is expected to replace Guardiola. Reflecting on his legacy, Guardiola said: 'Hopefully they enjoyed watching us. The moments were fun.'
