Pep Guardiola leaves Man City – latest: ‘Deal agreed’ with replacement ahead of shock exit announcement | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola is set to leave Manchester City at the end of the current Premier League season with an announcement of his departure expected this week.

Guardiola arrived at City in 2016 and has won 20 titles with the club including a treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup triumphs in 2022/23 emulating Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United team from 1998/99. The most recent trophies won by Guardiola’s side are the 2025/26 Carabao and FA Cups with City completing a domestic cup double last weekend having beaten Chelsea 1-0 in the FA Cup final at Wembley.

After that game, Guardiola affirmed that he still had one-year left to run on his contract with City, who are also seeking to win the Premier League with two games to go, but rumours have grown over the last 24 hours that the Catalan will be calling time on his City career following this Sunday’s Premier League finale.

Guardiola’s former assistant and ex-Chelsea and Leicester boss Enzo Maresca is the rumoured favourite to replace him in the dugout but speculation will continue until Guardiola’s future is confirmed one way or the other.

Maresca 'agrees' to replace Pep

Enzo Maresca’s name is at the very top of possible replacements for Pep Guardiola in rumours going back all the way to January.

Fabrizio Romano is reporting that there is even a ‘verbal agreement’ in place between Maresca and the club over a potential three year deal.

Mike Jones19 May 2026 09:35

Who will replace Guardiola?

In his conversation with Betfair Alan Shearer was asked who he sees as Guardiola’s replacement.

He said: “If you believe the rumours then Maresca is ready to walk in there at Man City after Pep. Good luck, it will be an incredibly difficult job, we've seen over the years how tough it is to follow a great manager, and Pep is one of the greatest.

“It might give everyone else a chance now, but I'll be sad to see him leave because without a doubt he has been incredible for the Premier League.”

Mike Jones19 May 2026 09:33

Shearer reacts to Guardiola exit

Alan Shearer is one of many football pundits to give his reaction to the news that Pep Guardiola will be leaving Man City.

He spoke to Betfair and called Guardiola one of the greatest the Premier League has ever seen.

“The news has broken that Pep Guardiola looks set to leave Manchester City at the end of the season and I'm not entirely surprised, there have been one or two rumours circulating for a while,” Shearer said.

“What a man, what a manager. He's brought huge, huge success to Manchester City in his own way, in his own style. I know he's had incredible wealth behind it but there's one thing having that and it's another delivering, and that's exactly what he's done.

“He's a lovely guy, certainly down to earth, he's always been very amicable, very open and always willing to have a conversation.

“He's delivered trophy after trophy after trophy, and his teams have been incredible to watch.

“He's been one of the best, if not the best we've ever seen. We didn't think anyone would get near Sir Alex Ferguson, but he has without a doubt, and some will argue that he's even better.”

Guardiola wants to win Premier League again

Before any exit for Pep Guardiola, he and City will have another chance to win the Premier League but they have a tough task on their hands.

They trail Arsenal by five points with two games to go and must win both of their remaining matches.

Ahead of tonight’s clash with Bournemouth Guardiola said: “We have three days, they have ten days to prepare for the game.

“They are playing to qualify for the Champions League. When you arrive in the last fixtures and the opponent doesn’t play for anything it’s easier but that is not the case.

“It is what it is. We know exactly what we have to do. It’s not complicated, we have to win and then against Aston Villa.

“All we want is to be with our people at the end and try to fight for the title and extend it to Aston Villa. To do that we need to beat Bournemouth.”

Who is the greatest Premier League manager of all time?

With Guardiola reportedly set to leave Manchester City after a trophy-laden decade at the Etihad, debate is already raging over where he ranks among the Premier League’s managerial greats.

Six league titles, a Champions League and a record-breaking era of dominance have put Guardiola alongside icons such as Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho in the conversation – but who comes out on top? Vote in our poll below:

Mike Jones19 May 2026 09:00

Arteta on Guardiola's possible exit

When news broke of Pep Guardiola’s potential exit yesterday, Arsenal were preparing for a huge match against Burnley.

They won that 1-0 to keep the destination of the Premier League title in their own hands and Mikel Arteta was asked about Guardiola after the match.

He told Sky Sports: "Once he makes that decision then we can talk about it. Before that, nobody should do it."

When asked if he will be watching City vs Bournemouth tonight in case Andoni Iraola’s men take points off City to hand Arsenal the title he replied: "I don't know, what we have to do is to prepare for the Crystal Palace match in the best possible way. This is the Premier League.

"We know the quality that Andoni has done and the record that they have right now. Everything is possible."

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he will be ‘the biggest ever’ Bournemouth fan on Tuesday night (John Walton/PA) (PA Wire)

Mike Jones19 May 2026 08:55

Guardiola's focus is on Bournemouth

Manchester City take on Bournemouth in the Premier League tonight knowing they need to win to keep their hopes of winning the title alive.

When asked about his possible exit from the club and what he is thinking about, Guardiola replied: “Bournemouth, Bournemouth, Bournemouth.”

He explained: “17 games unbeaten. The run is unbelievable. What they have done with losing three players in the back four from last season that had success and then going 17 games unbeaten is unbelievable.

“The only chance we have is to win so we have to break that run otherwise it will be over. Always they have been difficult. Since last years, they have been tough, tough games.

“Last season in the Premier League it was one of the worst defeats and performances. At the same time, in the quarter-final last season we played really, really good. We will see which face we do tomorrow.”

Mike Jones19 May 2026 08:50

Pep's honours

The 55-year-old has captured 17 major trophies, and 20 in all, since taking over Man City in 2016, including six Premier League titles, which could still become seven if they can come out on top of an intense title race with Arsenal.

Guardiola also masterminded City’s breakthrough in Europe to claim a first Champions League in 2023, defeating Inter Milan in Istanbul and securing a third European crown as a manager following two triumphs during his legendary stint in charge of Barcelona.

His latest trophy came last weekend, as Antoine Semenyo’s flicked finish ensured City beat Chelsea 1-0 in the FA Cup final, a 19th piece of silverware in Guardiola’s time at the Etihad and a third FA Cup.

(PA)

Mike Jones19 May 2026 08:45