Pep Guardiola leaves Manchester City after historic 10-year era, tributes pour in

Pep Guardiola is set to step down as the boss of Manchester City after 1o years of historic managerial position.

The announcement came from the club on Friday, stating the Catalan would leave Manchester City FC after the season ends on Sunday despite having a year left on his contract.

When asked about the reason to depart the club this early, Guardiola answered, “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.”

“lf it was, I would be here. Eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City,”

Despite existing as a boss, Guardiola would be part of the City Football Group as a global ambassador, the club said.

10 years, 20 titles and one lasting legacy

Pep Guardiola joined Manchester City in 2016 and oversaw a highly successful era for the club, winning six Premier League titles, the Champions League, three FA Cups, five English League Cups, and the FIFA Club World Cup.

In the 2023–24 campaign, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City made history by becoming the first side to win four consecutive English league titles.

Here is the breakdown of 20 titles:

• Six Premier Leagues
• Five League Cups
• Three FA Cups
• Three Community Shields
• One Champions League
• One Uefa Super Cup
• One Fifa Club World Cup

During his time at the club, Manchester City’s revenues surged significantly from below £400mn the season before his arrival to reaching highs of over £700mn in recent seasons.

Tributes poured in

In the sports world, the news of Pep Guardiola leaving the club has sent shockwaves, leaving the fans sad. At the same time, massive tributes poured in, praising his historic achievement and decades-long career at the club.

Manchester City posted on its official X account, “"What a time we have had together.”

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague said, “It's emotional because when he talks about the attack at Manchester Arena he doesn't mention that he couldn't get in touch with his daughter and his wife.”

"In the middle of the chaos, he understood the shock and sense of community with everyone helping each other. I think that is one of the recent reasons why he fell in love with the city of Manchester and the people of Manchester.

Manchester City's chief executive officer Ferran Soriano said, “We will forever be grateful to Pep and cherish so many unforgettable memories. He is a City legend… forever.”

"Nobody would have believed, ten years ago, that we could win 20 trophies in this decade, playing entertaining football of such high quality. It was unthinkable… and yet it was done."

Users also paid heartfelt tributes to the legend. One user wrote “Pep enters the conversation with the legends of this sport for the Greatest of All Time. A tactical master who won the biggest matches with the biggest clubs. There may never be another one quite like him.”

Another commented, “A decade of football that rewrote what was possible. Pep didn't just win trophies at City he changed the way the whole world thinks about the game. The Treble, the records, the swagger, the philosophy none of it happens without him.”

“Thank you for everything, Pep.

There will never be another one like you.”