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Pep Guardiola will reportedly leave his position as Manchester City manager this summer, ending a decade-long tenure.
Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is expected to succeed the Catalan tactician, according to The Athletic.
Pep Guardiola’s trophy-laden spell at Manchester City is about to end. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Guardiola’s impending departure comes hot on the heels of Manchester City’s recent FA Cup victory over Chelsea, marking the 55-year-old’s 20th major trophy since arriving at the Etihad in 2016.
Although his current contract runs until June 2027, The Athletic reports that Guardiola is preparing to resign after City’s final two games of the season against Bournemouth and Aston Villa.
The transition process
The transition process appears to be underway.
The Athletic previously reported in December that Maresca was on City’s radar, and later revealed that the Italian explicitly informed the Chelsea hierarchy that he was in talks about the job before his departure from Stamford Bridge in January.
Enzo Maresca will take the reins of Manchester City. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Maresca, 46, is a familiar face at the Etihad, having previously coached City’s under-21 team and was a first-team assistant under Guardiola during the 2022-23 season.
Maresca recently enjoyed a very successful spell at Chelsea, securing Champions League qualification along with Club World Cup and Conference League titles before parting ways with the London club.
Departure time
Guardiola’s departure comes at a critical time for Manchester City.
City are still awaiting the verdict and possible punishments relating to more than 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations, allegations the club strongly denies.
Furthermore, former director of football Txiki Begiristain left Manchester City last season, ushering in a completely new era of leadership.
Guardiola could still end on a high note; City are currently two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal with two games remaining.
