Pep Guardiola confirmed on Friday 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 football.
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 favourite to take on the daunting task of filling Guardiola’s shoes after a decade of unprecedented dominance.
