Coach Pep Guardiola is likely to leave Manchester City after the last match of the season against Aston Villa, ending a 10-year journey full of glory at the Etihad Stadium.
Currently, Man City still affirms that Guardiola has a contract until 2027 and hopes he will continue to lead the team. However, many sources in England say that the 55-year-old coach is ready to end his journey at Etihad after this season.
Since taking over Man City in 2016, Guardiola has won a total of 19 major titles with the team, including 6 Premier League titles, 3 FA Cups and the historic Champions League title in 2023 after the victory over Inter Milan in Istanbul.
Guardiola's most recent title came last weekend when Man City defeated Chelsea 1-0 in the FA Cup final thanks to Antoine Semenyo's delicate finish. This is also Guardiola's third FA Cup with Man City and his 19th major title at the Etihad.
Under Guardiola, The Citizens not only dominated English football but also redefined the standard of success in the Premier League. He helped the team set a 100-point record in the 2017-2018 season, became the first coach to win the highest league in England for 4 consecutive seasons and built a team considered the strongest in club history.
The time Guardiola worked in England was also associated with Jurgen Klopp's top-level competition with Liverpool. The two teams once created one of the most exciting championship races in Premier League history, especially in the 2018-2019 season when Man City won the championship with only 1 point more than Liverpool.
However, Guardiola's reign was also overshadowed by an investigation into more than 100 allegations of financial violations that the Premier League targeted Man City. The independent hearing ended at the end of 2024 but the final results have not yet been announced.
If he actually leaves Etihad, Guardiola is likely to rest for a while instead of immediately taking on a new job, similar to the break between the time he left Barcelona and joined Bayern Munich before.
Guardiola's departure will certainly leave a huge void at Man City. The club's leadership is said to be considering many replacement candidates, notably Enzo Maresca - Guardiola's former assistant, who just left Chelsea despite helping this team win the Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup.
In addition to Maresca, Vincent Kompany - a legend of Man City currently leading Bayern Munich - is also considered a potential candidate for the hot seat at the Etihad.
Before the FA Cup final, Guardiola proudly said about his journey at Man City: "19 titles in 10 years is not bad at all. We have brought a lot of joy to the fans".
And if this is really the end, Guardiola will leave Man City as one of the greatest coaches in Premier League history.
