Pep Guardiola to Step Down as Manchester City Manager
Just days after Arsenal was crowned English Premier League champions, Manchester City announced that Pep Guardiola will be stepping down as manager. The 55-year-old Spaniard, who joined City in July 2016, has had a transformative effect during his 10 years in charge.
Guardiola’s impressive record boasts six Premier League titles, one UEFA Champions League, three FA Cups, five League Cups, one FIFA Club World Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, and three FA Community Shields. This season, he signed off by winning both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, making him the most successful manager in City’s history with 20 major trophies.
Guardiola’s Farewell Message
In a heartfelt farewell letter, Guardiola expressed his gratitude to the club, saying, “When I arrived, my first interview was with Noel Gallagher. I walked out thinking, ‘Okay… Noel is here? This will be fun.’ And what a time we have had together.” He added, “Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it’s my time. Nothing is eternal, if it was, I would be here. Eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City.”
Guardiola reflected on his time at City, saying, “This is a city built from work. From graft. You see it in the colour of the bricks. From people who clocked in early, stayed late. The factories. The Pankhursts. The unions. The music. Simply the Industrial Revolution and how this changed the world. And I think I grew to understand that, and my teams did too.”
Tributes from Manchester City
Manchester City Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak paid tribute to Guardiola, saying, “Over the last 10 years honesty and trust have formed the bedrock on which we have navigated every situation together with Pep – always understanding that we could find the right answer together. Today the right answer is for Pep to finish his journey as the manager of Manchester City.” He added, “The unique approach that he brings to his coaching has allowed him to constantly challenge the accepted truths of our game. It is the reason that in the last 10 years he has not only made Manchester City better – he has also made football better.”
