Manchester City are a week away from entering a Premier League season without Pep Guardiola for the first time in 10 years. The legendary Spaniard left the club this summer, and it'll be Enzo Maresca leading the team out for their Community Shield clash against Arsenal on Sunday.
As is the case in sports, turnover in playing squads is not only natural but increasingly common these days. It makes sense that not a single player from City's last starting XI without Guardiola - a 1-1 draw against Swansea City in May 2016 - remains at the club, with just three still playing at all. As the club's new era officially begins, we take a look at what each player from that line-up is up to now.
Goalkeeper and Defenders
Joe Hart - Manuel Pellegrini's last game in charge also turned out to be the last time Joe Hart would play for Manchester City in the Premier League. The former England goalkeeper was made surplus to requirements upon Guardiola's arrival. Hart, 39, eventually called time on his career in 2024 after three years with Celtic and is now among the most heralded pundits in the country. He began his punditry role on Match of the Day last season and worked for the BBC for the World Cup this summer.
Eliaquim Mangala - The former France international left Manchester City in 2019 to join Valencia before enjoying stints at Saint-Etienne and Estoril. He retired from football this summer after making just five appearances for Bolivian side Oriente Petrolero. He's since returned to Saint-Etienne, where he's joined the backroom staff of manager Ian Cathro. The Ligue 2 side will hope to earn promotion back to the top division this season.
Nicolas Otamendi - One of the three players from the starting XI who remain professional footballers, Nicolas Otamendi has continued his stellar career since his exit from the Etihad Stadium in 2020. After spending six years at Benfica, during which he won four club trophies and the World Cup with Argentina, he moved back to his native Argentina earlier this summer to sign for River Plate.
Gael Clichy - Gael Clichy left Manchester City a year after Guardiola's arrival and spent three years at Istanbul Basaksehir and the same amount of time at Servette, before retiring from the sport in 2023. The ex-France star has ventured into coaching in his post-playing career, where he's managed Ligue 3 side Caen since 2025.
Bacary Sagna - Bacary Sagna enjoyed a career that included stints at Arsenal and Manchester City before hanging up his boots in 2019 after a single season in the MLS with Montreal Impact. The former France defender has since moved to Dubai and ventured into the AI space. He's spent five years developing a website and app that utilises artificial intelligence to scout football prospects and puts them in contact with clubs. He also admitted his desire to complete his coaching badges and said he's coaching a girls' team in Dubai earlier this year.
Midfielders
Fernando - Fernando made 102 appearances for Man City before Guardiola sold him in 2017 to Galatasaray. The Brazilian went on to enjoy a lengthy career with Sevilla after two years in Turkey, before returning home to Brazil with Vila Nova. He spent the last year of his career with Internacional and left the club in the summer of 2025. However, he officially announced his retirement from football in April.
Fernandinho - A true legend for the Citizens, Fernandinho left City in 2022 having won 12 major honours, including five Premier League titles. The former Brazil international retired from football last year after spending the last two years of his career with boyhood club Athletico Paranaense. Citing his desire to spend time with his family upon leaving football, the 40-year-old has also ventured into punditry, working with beIN SPORTS for the World Cup.
Kevin De Bruyne - Kevin De Bruyne's iconic 10-year career with City came to an end in 2025, with the Belgian signing for Napoli that summer. He scored five goals in 21 games across all competitions in his first season with the Serie A giants. De Bruyne, 35, is coming off the back of his fourth and likely last World Cup campaign. Belgium reached the quarter-finals of the competition, but lost to eventual champions Spain 2-1.
Jesus Navas - Manchester City are the only club other than Sevilla that Jesus Navas represented in his 21-year professional career. After leaving Manchester in 2017 to rejoin his boyhood club, Navas spent the final seven years of his career in Spain before retiring in 2024. The 39-year-old has remained with the club in an ambassadorial role thanks to the lifetime agreement he signed the year of his retirement.
Forwards
Sergio Aguero - Possessing the title of being the greatest goalscorer in City history, Sergio Aguero is nearing almost five years of retirement. The Argentine's career was cut short in late 2021 after doctors advised him to retire after he was diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia, just five months after joining La Liga giants Barcelona. Since hanging up his boots, the 38-year-old has become a successful YouTuber, with over 4.3million subscribers on the platform. Aguero's content includes gaming videos, football watch parties and trips out to theme parks.
Kelechi Iheanacho - The Nigeria international spent two years at the Etihad Stadium before enjoying a seven-year stint at Leicester City, which included an FA Cup triumph. After spells at Sevilla, Middlesbrough and Celtic, the 29-year-old striker signed for Bursaspor last month.
