Pep Guardiola has officially announced his departure as Manchester City manager at the end of this season, ending a glorious decade at the club.
The 20-time major trophy winner delivered a deeply moving statement filled with love, gratitude, and reflection on his transformative time in Manchester.
Guardiola’s Emotional Message
“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. 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 paid heartfelt tribute to the city’s spirit and the club’s journey:
“This is a city built from work. From graft… We worked. We suffered. We fought. And we did things our own way.”
He recalled both painful and unifying moments:
“Remember, the Manchester Arena attack, when this city showed the world what strength actually looks like? Not anger. Not fear. Just love. Community. Togetherness…
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Remember, losing my mum during COVID and feeling this club carry me through it.”
In one of the most touching lines of his speech, Guardiola declared:
“Tony Walsh said in his unforgettable poem this is the place. I’m sorry, Tony: this is my place.”
He ended on a high note:
“So as my time comes to an end, be happy. Oasis are back again…
It has been so f****** fun. Love you all.”
Guardiola’s Record-Breaking Legacy
Guardiola’s trophy haul of 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 only tells part of the story. The 2022/23 campaign saw City become just the second English side to win the Treble of UEFA Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup — football’s Holy Grail — and it is widely regarded as the greatest season in Manchester City’s 132-year history.
His 2017/18 Premier League-winning side set multiple records that still stand, including 100 points, 106 goals scored, 32 wins, 50 away points, a +79 goal difference, and a 19-point winning margin — cementing one of the most dominant seasons in English top-flight history.
Club’s Response
Manchester City Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said:
“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 ten years he has not only made Manchester City better — he has also made football better.”
Chief Executive Ferran Soriano added:
“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.”
