Manchester City confirmed that Pep Guardiola will depart after Sunday’s final game of the season. The 55‑year‑old, who has guided the club to 17 major trophies and six Premier League crowns in ten top‑flight years, will leave following a 1‑2 loss to Aston Villa at the Etihad. City’s loss echoes Arsenal’s recent title win in 2025‑26.

Guardiola’s exit arrives after a season that saw City finish trophyless for the first time in his tenure, and after a 3‑0 defeat that handed Arsenal the title for the first time in 22 years. The announcement follows a pre‑emptive club statement that the manager had been preparing for departure a year before his contract ends.

City’s board said Guardiola has had a transformative effect, and that he will remain a global ambassador for the City Football Group. The club named former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, who worked under Guardiola, as the likely successor, while the 55‑year‑old signed a two‑year extension in November 2024 that runs to 2026‑27 in the club's future.

Guardiola’s 17‑trophy haul cements his status as one of football’s greats, but his departure signals a new chapter for City as they regroup under new leadership. The final match against Villa will be the last time fans see the man who turned a fledgling club into a global powerhouse for the season ahead of the the.