Mission Accomplished! Guardiola May Leave Manchester City at the End of This Season
Sources have revealed that Pep Guardiola could leave Manchester City at the end of this season.
Manchester City, who had a slow start to the season, have gradually found their rhythm. On Sunday, they defeated Liverpool 3-0, narrowing the gap with Premier League leaders Arsenal to 4 points. The match coincided with Guardiola’s 1000th game in management, and City fans unfurled a banner written in Catalan: “Volem que et quedis (We want you to stay).”
The banner first appeared 13 months ago, when Guardiola had 7 months left on his contract. The following month, he extended his deal with the club until the end of the 2026-27 season, but now it seems he may depart next summer. While a final decision has not been made—Guardiola has always honored his contracts—insiders admit that after 10 seasons in charge of City, he could step down at the end of the campaign.
They believe leaving now would make sense: the squad is stable, Guardiola has won all possible honors, and a 10-year tenure is lengthy, especially for someone whose longest spell at a first team before arriving in England was just four years at Barcelona.
However, these same sources have predicted Guardiola’s departure before, only to see him renew. Predicting his next move is inherently tricky. Additionally, the outcome of the 115 Premier League charges against City remains unannounced, though the club has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, stating it has "significant irrefutable evidence" to prove its innocence.
Guardiola made a famous remark in 2023: if City were relegated, he would be willing to manage the team in League One. After winning 18 trophies in nine seasons, Guardiola has earned the right to leave on his own terms.
With the support of his core team, management, and players, he has elevated City’s global status to new heights. The club now stands firmly among Europe’s top sides. This is not the first time Guardiola’s future has been questioned. In three of the past five seasons, when he had less than a year left on his contract at this stage, he chose to renew.
The key figure in persuading Guardiola to stay each time has been Khaldoon Al Mubarak. Guardiola has a close relationship with the City chairman, who stood by him during tough times—including his trophy-less first season in 2016-17, the 2021 Champions League final defeat to Chelsea, and last year, when the team finished trophyless for only the second time under him.
Guardiola also gets along well with Hugo Viana, who replaced Txiki Begiristain as sporting director this summer. Begiristain, a former Barcelona teammate and one of Guardiola’s closest friends, left big shoes to fill, but the Portuguese has earned respect through his dedication, often spending time at the training ground with Guardiola and his core team, with whom he frequently dines or shares coffee.
Guardiola’s family life is now stable. His two older children are independent, and his youngest daughter lives in Barcelona with his ex-partner Cristina, though she sees her father regularly. Despite their split, Guardiola and Cristina have a good relationship, and he maintains strong bonds with his children. He has also taken up cooking.
Yet, it is recognized that last year took a heavy toll on the City manager, both professionally and personally. When Nico González scored City’s second goal on Sunday, he may have celebrated like Tigger, but the question remains: can Guardiola sustain such intensity year after year? His talent and tactical acumen are unquestionable, but he has been at the forefront of elite football, managing for 16 of the past 18 years—with one year in charge of Barcelona B team and another spent on holiday in New York between his spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Whether he leaves next summer depends on whether he feels he has the energy to continue and can still get the best out of his players.
What is certain is that Guardiola will not manage for another five to ten years. He no longer has that energy. He originally planned to manage an Italian team after leaving City, but with Serie A’s competitive level having declined significantly, it now seems more likely he will take charge of a national team.
Whether Guardiola leaves next summer or the one after may partly depend on the club’s ability to find a suitable successor. He and his team are acutely aware of their responsibility to the club and fans, and do not want to leave it in a difficult position. If asked, he will offer advice but understands the board will ultimately choose the next manager.
Former City captain Vincent Kompany has significant support within the club, despite recently extending his contract with Bayern until 2029.
Roberto De Zerbi also has many backers; Guardiola himself has publicly expressed admiration for the former Brighton manager, who now coaches Marseille. Andoni Iraola’s work at Bournemouth has also caught attention.
Guardiola’s successor will face a daunting task, and he may well follow the Catalan’s lead by seeking a blessing from Father Natalino before taking charge.
