Pep Guardiola Says He Will Take Break From Coaching After Manchester City Exit

Pep Guardiola confirmed he will be out of football “for a while” after Manchester City’s departure decision was confirmed on Friday following a decade at the Etihad Stadium.

“- The Catalan departs as the greatest manager in the club’s history after an unparalleled trophy-laden decade of success - The legendary coach has delivered 20 major honors in an era of dominance ABU DHABI: Manchester City have officially confirmed that Pep Guardiola will step down from his role as manager this summer”

Arab News

Guardiola said, “Rest. No plans to train for a while. Otherwise I would be here. I need to step back, I will not train for a while,” and he tied the choice to his energy levels declining.

BBC

City said it will rename the Etihad Stadium’s extended North Stand in his honour, with the Pep Guardiola Stand opening on Sunday for Aston Villa’s visit in the season’s final game.

The Guardian reported Guardiola’s 10-year spell included winning 17 major trophies and ending with last Saturday’s 1-0 FA Cup final triumph over Chelsea as his last piece of silverware.

Guardiola also said his father, 94-year-old Khaldoon [al-Mubarak, the City chair] called him this morning and that his father “will come on Sunday, 94 years old, to watch the game.”

As Guardiola prepares to leave after Sunday’s game against Aston Villa, The Independent framed the moment as a “proper goodbye” on the pitch, with Guardiola saying, “I want to say proper goodbye to my people on Sunday. I want to hug them, all of them, on the pitch.”

The Independent also quoted Guardiola on why he is stepping away, saying, “I feel I would not have the energy that is required [to continue],” and it linked that conclusion to Jurgen Klopp’s earlier decision to leave Liverpool when he felt he was running out of energy.

BBC

The Guardian reported City will rename the extended North Stand as the Pep Guardiola Stand and that “A statue of him will also be made and placed on the approach to the stand in due course.”

Sky News said the final match will be played in front of the Pep Guardiola Stand, describing the newly redeveloped North Stand renamed and open for the first time to wave farewell to the manager.

Sky News added that Enzo Maresca is the favourite to replace Guardiola next season, noting he served as assistant at the Etihad during the 2022/23 season and had previously managed Chelsea.

Guardiola said he will take up an ambassadorial role within the City Football Group, and The Guardian reported he will take “zero decisions” while remaining available if the organisation needs him to represent it across its many clubs.

“Pep Guardiola says Manchester City need "new energy" as he brought an end to his 10-year reign as manager”

BBC

The Independent echoed that he is certain to be inundated with offers of work but insisted on stepping back, quoting him: “I don’t think so, I will take a while, but I have to prove to myself [that I need a rest].”

Sky Sports reported Guardiola will continue his relationship with the City Football Group as a global ambassador, with the role involving technical advice to the clubs in the group and work on specific projects and collaborations.

Sky Sports also said Guardiola’s exit comes while City await the outcome of an investigation into 115 charges of alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules, and it added that Manchester City deny all of the charges.

In the final days of his tenure, Guardiola’s message to fans included, “As my time comes to an end, be happy. Oasis are back again,” as City prepares the Pep Guardiola Stand and a statue to mark his “incredible contribution during his 10 historic years.”