Pep Guardiola has officially confirmed his departure from Manchester City with former Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca expected to take over.
The Catalan tactician announced that he will step down at the conclusion of the 2025/26 campaign, bringing an end to a decade-long tenure that fundamentally reshaped the landscape of the Premier League.
According to report from Ben Jacobs, he confirmed to pending exit of the Spanish coach who is expected to be replaced by former Chelsea coach, Enzo Maresca.
Since his arrival at the Etihad Stadium in 2016, Guardiola has transcended the role of a traditional manager, becoming the architect of a footballing dynasty.
His departure follows the expiration of his final contract extension, a period during which he led the Cityzens to a trophy haul that includes multiple Premier League titles, domestic cups, and the club’s historic first UEFA Champions League crown.
Guardiola’s influence extended far beyond the trophy cabinet. He introduced a tactical evolution characterized by positional fluidity, high-pressing intensity, and the innovative use of inverted full-backs and false nines.
Under his guidance, Manchester City didn’t just win, they established a standard of technical excellence and consistency that forced every rival in Europe to recalibrate their own sporting models.
The timing of the announcement, coming just as the 2025/26 season draws to a close, allows the club and its supporters to pay tribute to a figure who has become synonymous with their global rise.
While speculation regarding his next move ranging from a sabbatical to a long-rumored venture into international management continues to swirl, Guardiola remained focused on the emotional weight of his exit.
The Manchester City board now faces the Herculean task of replacing a man widely regarded as the greatest manager of his generation.
The club’s infrastructure, heavily influenced by the Barcelona model of recruitment and youth development, was designed to sustain success beyond any single individual, yet the Pep-shaped void will be impossible to fill directly.
As the football world reacts to this news, Man City prepares for a final farewell to the man who turned their sky-blue dreams into a concrete reality.
Guardiola leaves behind not just a team of champions, but a blueprint for excellence that will be studied for decades to come.
Enzo Maresca is expected to carry on from where he left once the exit is officially completed after Manchester City final game of the season.
