05/22/26 05:48:00
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05/22 05:46 CDT Guardiola to leave Manchester City after season, bringing close
to 10-year trophy-laden spell
Guardiola to leave Manchester City after season, bringing close to 10-year
trophy-laden spell
By JAMES ROBSON and STEVE DOUGLAS
AP Sports Writers
MANCHESTER, England (AP) --- Pep Guardiola confirmed what Manchester City fans
had been fearing. The club's most successful manager is leaving, bringing to a
close a trophy-laden, 10-year spell in which he established City as one of
major forces in Europe and changed the face of English soccer.
Guardiola, who had a further year left on his City contract, will take charge
of his final game against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.
"Don't ask me the reasons I'm leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I
know it's my time," Guardiola said. "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."
City said Guardiola would take up a role as global ambassador.
Enzo Maresca --- the former Chelsea manager who was previously assistant to
Guardiola at City --- is the favorite to take on the daunting task of filling
Guardiola's shoes after a decade of unprecedented dominance.
Since joining City in the summer of 2016, Guardiola led the Abu Dhabi-backed
team to six Premier League titles and the Champions League for the first time
in 2023.
He won 17 major trophies in all, including a domestic double this season of the
English League Cup and the FA Cup. He has won 35 major titles across his
coaching career including his time at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
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