Pep Guardiola: Manchester City confirm legendary manager will leave club after decade in charge - 'Nothing is eternal'

Guardiola joined Man City in 2016 and turned them into the dominant force in English football.

During his decade in charge, City won six Premier League titles - including four in a row from 2020-2024 - the UEFA Champions League, three FA Cups, and five League Cups.

Guardiola also lifted the FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and three Community Shields.

In total, he has won 20 trophies with Man City and will go down as one of the most influential and successful managers in Premier League history.

"When I arrived, my first interview was with Noel Gallagher. I walked out thinking, 'Okay… Noel is here? This will be fun,'" Guardiola told City's official website.

"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.

"We worked. We suffered. We fought. And we did things our own way. Our way.

"Hard work comes in many forms. Trips to Bournemouth, when we lost the Premier League, and you were there. Trips to Istanbul, when you were there, too."

He added: "Players don’t forget - every single instant, moment, me, my staff, this club, everything.

"What we have done, we have done it for all of you. And you have been just exceptional. You don’t know it yet, but you are leaving a legacy.

"So as my time comes to an end, be happy. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for trusting me. Thank you for pushing me. Thank you for loving me."

Guardiola will take on a role as Global Ambassador for the City Football Group following his departure.

Asked in a press conference on Friday afternoon what his future plans are, the Catalan said: "Rest. No plans to train for a while, otherwise I would be here. I need to step back, I will not train for a while.

"I feel I will not have the energy that is required every three days with expectations to fight for titles, being in front of the players. I know myself. I have that energy but I feel I will not have that. It's time. It's 10 years.

"The biggest decisions happen not because I don't have that ambition or I don't want to try it again, but it's just after ten years. I don't think it's good for an organisation to have people over many, many years. It's good to shake, to move with new faces - for everyone."

Guardiola admitted that breaking the news to City's players did not go entirely to plan.

"The speech was a disaster, I was so nervous - more than ever," he said. "I tell them like I'm telling all of you, the questions that require I have this passion and energy that I had since I was little boy, now I feel I will not have in the future.

"I have to be honest with myself but especially for the club that gave me everything and the people that rely on me incredibly."

He also revealed an interaction with former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

"One of the biggest compliments I had was a message from Sir Alex Ferguson yesterday or two days ago and that made me so happy," Guardiola said.

"I didn't talk, it was a voicemail. I will call him back for sure. He congratulated [us] for the trajectory and for what we achieved.

"It means a lot to me. It's not to be humble but he is the greatest in this country. The tenure, the times, for many reasons. I'm so happy."

"Over the last 10 years honesty and trust have formed the bedrock on which we have navigated every situation together with Pep – always understanding that we could find the right answer together," said City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.

"Today the right answer is for Pep to finish his journey as the manager of Manchester City.

"There have been points along the way when he could have stopped, and it would have been enough.

"Somehow, Pep always found new energy and pushed on, finding different and innovative ways to continue winning and delivering success."

Guardiola will take charge of his final game as City manager against Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

It has been reported that his former assistant Enzo Maresca will be named as Man City’s new manager.

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