Pep Guardiola is reportedly set to bring his trophy-laden decade in charge of Manchester City to an end this weekend, according to multiple reports on Monday.
Guardiola, 55, has won six Premier League titles and delivered the club’s first UEFA Champions League crown among 20 trophies since arriving in England in 2016.
He could still add another honour if City win their final two matches of the season against Bournemouth and Aston Villa, while Arsenal drop points against Crystal Palace on the final day of the Premier League season.
Reports from The Daily Mail and The Athletic claim Guardiola will step down after City’s clash with Villa at the Etihad Stadium, although the club has not officially commented on the speculation.
City have, however, scheduled a victory parade in Manchester on Monday to celebrate their League Cup and FA Cup triumphs this season, an event some believe could double as a farewell for the long-serving manager.
Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who previously worked under Guardiola at City, is being linked as a potential successor.
Guardiola still has one year remaining on his contract, but speculation over his departure has intensified in recent months.
After a rare trophyless campaign in 2024/25, City have rebounded strongly, sealing a domestic cup double with victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup final and remaining in contention for another Premier League title.
Guardiola arrived in England already regarded as one of Europe’s most influential coaches, having previously guided Barcelona to multiple league and Champions League titles between 2008 and 2012, before adding further league success with Bayern Munich.
Initially expected to have a short spell in England, his tenure instead reshaped English football, with City emerging as the dominant force in the Premier League era under his leadership.
His possession-based style of play has influenced coaching philosophies across the game, with several of his former assistants and admirers now managing top clubs.
Mikel Arteta, once Guardiola’s assistant at City, is closing in on a potential Premier League title with Arsenal, while Arne Slot at Liverpool has acknowledged the influence of Guardiola’s Barcelona side on his coaching approach. Xabi Alonso also spent time at Bayern during Guardiola’s tenure as a player seeking to learn under him.
Guardiola’s reported departure comes as the long-running Premier League investigation into more than 100 alleged financial breaches by Manchester City remains unresolved.
The club were first charged in February 2023, with an independent commission hearing concluding in December 2024, leaving the outcome still pending and casting a shadow over their recent dominance.
AFP
