Pep Guardiola has reportedly decided to leave Manchester City when his contract expires at the end of the season, though a final decision has not been made yet. Per The Athletic, Guardiola decided at the end of last season that he would exit the club following the 2024-25 campaign, though City are still in the process of convincing him to stay. The report also suggests that Guardiola may be considering City’s arguments to extend his stay and that those close to the manager say “you never know” with him.
News of Guaridola’s potential departure came shortly after City’s 3-2 win over Fulham on Saturday when supporters displayed a banner reading “Pep Guardiola, we want you to stay” in Catalan as they await meaningful updates on his contract status after this season.
City’s era of success, fueled by Emirati royal Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, began in earnest when they won the Premier League title in the 2011-12 season, but Guardiola has led a transformative period in the club’s history. City have won the title six times in Guardiola’s eight full seasons in charge so far and are currently on a four-year winning streak, and they also won the team’s first UEFA Champions League title in the 2022-23 season.
Even as City continue to dominate in England and Europe, a feeling of uncertainty around Guaridola’s future has started to linger over the team. It was evident as early as the day City won the 2023-24 Premier League title when the manager was noncommittal on a contract renewal.
“The reality is I am closer to leaving than staying,” he said at the time. “We have talked with the club and my feeling is that I want to stay now. I will stay next season and during the season we will talk. But after eight or nine years, we will see.”
That day, Guardiola was also somewhat evasive when he was asked about whether or not he had achieved everything he possibly could with City.
“I had that season last year after [winning the Champions League to complete the treble in] Istanbul. I said, ‘It’s over, there’s nothing left.’ But I have a contract, I’m still here,” he said. “Some of the moments I’m a bit tired, but some of the moments I love and we are here winning games, looking good with new players. I started to think about [how] no one had done four in a row [so] why don’t we try?”
Considering City are still hoping to convince Guardiola to stay, it is unclear who they would even target as his successor though the incoming manager would have quite the act to follow up. It is also unknown how the hearing into the club’s alleged 115 breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules will impact City’s future, especially if they face serious punishment. The hearing began last month and an independent commission is expected to deliver their verdict by early 2025.
