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 19 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.

Guardiola on City's future

Pep Guardiola has not addressed his own future expect to reiterate that he has another year on his current contract.

But, following the FA Cup final win he did speak about what he sees in the future for his players.

"The future is bright," he said. "I know the guys, I know how they feel, the commitment for the club, very professional.

“I'm pretty sure we'll be there in the next years."

(Reuters)

Mike Jones19 May 2026 10:00

Guardiola on his success

Following last weekend’s FA Cup win over Chelsea, Pep Guardiola took a moment to reflect on his tenure at Manchester City.

“Yeah, of course, 19 titles in 10 years is not bad,” he mused.

“They [the fans] know they don't need to wait until I'm leaving, they know I have been fun.

“So 19 titles – fight for 20 in 10 years – it's not bad, honestly.”

Pep Guardiola has won six Premier League titles with Manchester City (Reuters)

Mike Jones19 May 2026 09:54

When will Maresca return to management?

Since leaving Chelsea back in January, Enzo Maresca has not managed any club.

However, he spoke to Sky Sport Italia recently about his return to management but avoiding mentioning Manchester City.

"I feel ready for the next chapter, that is the most important thing," Maresca said.

"What matters, regardless of the club, is being ready.

“There are only a few weeks left until the end of the season, then we'll see what happens."

Maresca could be brought in to succeed Guardiola (PA)

Mike Jones19 May 2026 09:48

How irreplaceable Pep Guardiola turned Manchester City into era-defining winning machine

Bernardo Silva was counting his medals. “Since I arrived it has been 20, so it is not bad,” said the Manchester City captain. There may yet be a 21st before he departs, with a Premier League title to pursue.

The 20th was the first and last FA Cup Silva will lift as skipper. In the grand litany of things Pep Guardiola has won, it is unlikely to prove the most memorable, the delectable winner from Antoine Semenyo apart. There was a routine feel to it, but then Guardiola has made winning feel part of the routine.

Richard Jolly19 May 2026 09:42

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.”

(REUTERS)

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.”