Pep Guardiola is expected to leave Manchester City after Sunday’s final Premier League game against Aston Villa, according to multiple media reports.
City have said that Guardiola still has a contract for next season and they want him to stay. But inside the club, staff and players are reportedly preparing for his exit. The club is also looking at ways to honour him, including naming the newly expanded North Stand at the Etihad Stadium after him.
Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who once worked under Guardiola at City, is the leading candidate to replace him.
Guardiola has won 20 trophies in ten years at City, including six Premier League titles, the Champions League, three FA Cups and five EFL Cups. He could still add a seventh league title this season, having already won the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup.
He is widely considered one of the greatest football managers of all time, having previously managed Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Before the FA Cup final, he was asked if Wembley would be his last visit there. “No way,” he said. “I have one more year.”
Asked directly if he would be at City next season, he replied, “Yeah. I am here, I have a contract.”
At a later press conference, asked about his own farewell, he sighed and said, “Next. So many times. I have one more year.”
When the idea of naming the North Stand after him came up, he shut it down quickly. “No, no, no, no, no, no, I have no idea about that. They don’t have to do anything, honestly.”
