‘Nothing is eternal’: Pep Guardiola confirms he is leaving Manchester City after 10 years

Manchester City have confirmed Pep Guardiola is leaving at the end of the season. The manager is to step away after Sunday’s match at home to Aston Villa with one year on his contract, and City have lined up Enzo Maresca to replace him. “What a time we have had together,” Guardiola said.

“Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside I know it’s my time. Eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City .” Guardiola told his squad of his decision on Monday night after the news broke. He has been City’s manager for 10 years, winning 17 major trophies, including this season’s Carabao Cup and FA Cup. Hopes of a domestic treble ended on Tuesday when City’s 1-1 draw at Bournemouth made Arsenal the Premier League champions . Maresca has agreed in principle a three-year deal to succeed Guardiola, who he assisted at City in the 2022-23 season. Maresca has been out of work since leaving Chelsea on New Year’s Day. Chelsea are in line for sizeable compensation for the Italian, who departed with three and a half years on his deal, plus the club option of an extra year. Guardiola said with a nod to Manchester’s history: “This is a city built from work. You see it in the colour of the bricks. From people who clocked in early, stayed late. Simply the industrial revolution and how this changed the world.

Key points

• “Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving.
• There is no reason, but deep inside I know it’s my time.
• Eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City .” Guardiola told his squad of his decision on Monday night after the news broke.
• He has been City’s manager for 10 years, winning 17 major trophies, including this season’s Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
• Hopes of a domestic treble ended on Tuesday when City’s 1-1 draw at Bournemouth made Arsenal the Premier League champions .