Updated: 18 May 2026 20:40 BST |
4 min read
Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City after Sunday’s game against Aston Villa, following a trophy-laden decade in charge.
The Daily Mail reports that the Spaniard’s decision has become an “open secret” among people close to him. It has been rumoured for months that the 55-year-old will call it quits after this season.
Man City are in the process of informing their sponsors of Guardiola’s impending departure, with the legendary manager set to leave the Etihad despite having a year to run on his contract.
Guardiola himself has been coy on his future, sometimes pointing to his contract length, while at other times refusing to comment on where he will be next year. It now looks increasingly clear that he will not be in Manchester next season.
Man City are expected to make Guardiola’s exit official “some time on Sunday.” The club, having won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, will then hold an open-top bus parade on Monday to celebrate the Spaniard’s incredible 10-year stint at the club.
Maresca the clear favourite to replace Pep
Pep will leave Man City with 20 pieces of silverware to his name. He has overseen one of the most dominant teams in Premier League history, with his prime Cityzens winning four consecutive Premier League titles between 2020 and 2024.
Once his exit is confirmed, Guardiola is likely to take a break from coaching, although there have been rumours that he could be tempted to take charge of the Italian national team.
As for City, they have been preparing for the moment of Pep’s departure for months. The Etihad club opened talks with then-Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca in late 2025, which caused consternation at Stamford Bridge and influenced his explosive departure on 1 January.
Maresca was accused of lacking professionalism and commitment to Chelsea’s project for engaging in discussions with City. He was contractually obligated to inform the Blues of these talks.
The Italian has not had a job since, though he recently broke his silence and said that he is ready to return to the dugout. The Man City role is the obvious choice, with Maresca having previously served as an assistant to Pep.
He is the overwhelming favourite to replace the Spaniard, but former club captain Vincent Kompany has also been considered after doing an incredible job at Bayern Munich. However, reports in Germany already suggested some weeks ago that the Belgian is unlikely to leave this summer.
Related stories:
Build The FIFA World Cup 2026™: LEGO© releases stunning football-inspired collection
The most expensive pieces of World Cup memorabilia ever sold
Transfer Rumours: Mourinho eyes Man City star as first Real Madrid signing
The FootballTransfers app
Check out FootballTransfers’ new app for all of football’s big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.
The FootballTransfers app is available on Google Play and in the Apple App Store. Download here:
•Google Play
•App Store
