Pep Guardiola to Depart as Manchester City Manager
Pep Guardiola’s decision to step down as the manager of Manchester City has been officially confirmed, with intriguing insights into his choice coming to light.
Spanish journalist Guillem Balague shared on X (formerly Twitter) that Guardiola had intended to keep his departure quiet for as long as feasible.
It appears Guardiola had made his mind up about leaving a few weeks back but opted against an early announcement to prevent any impact on the team’s performance, recalling how Liverpool’s form dipped after Jurgen Klopp revealed his exit plans before the end of his tenure.
Balague noted, “Once he decided to leave—and this is crucial, as that decision was only made seven or eight weeks ago—he aimed to keep control of the situation so it wouldn’t affect on-field matters. He remembers Klopp’s experience and the aftermath of his January announcement: after the initial positive reception, Liverpool struggled badly towards the season’s end.”
“The decision and timing of Pep Guardiola’s announcement is completely his! There is not a single person at the club who is content with his departure, and if Khaldoon could have found a way to persuade him to stay, he would have done so. Pep has given everything during his time here.”
— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) May 22, 2026
Balague described Guardiola as an “obsessive genius” and mentioned that the coach’s current plan is to take some time off.
Manchester City Faces Challenge in Replacing Guardiola
Balague also shed light on the sentiments within the Etihad Stadium, noting that replacing Guardiola will be a formidable task, despite the club’s substantial resources. Guardiola is regarded as one of the greatest managers in history.
City’s management is reportedly unhappy about Guardiola’s decision to leave. Balague highlighted that no one behind the scenes welcomes the news of his departure.
According to reports from BBC Sport and others, former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is speculated to succeed Guardiola.
“Surely the GOAT Premier League manager?”
— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) May 22, 2026
However, Maresca’s resume does not compare to Guardiola’s, who exits Manchester City after an impressive tenure that includes six Premier League titles, a Champions League title, three FA Cups, and five League Cups.
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