Pep Guardiola to resign as Manchester City manager after 10 seasons
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola won 20 trophies with the Sky Blues. Photo by Peter Powell/EPA-EFE May 22 (UPI) -- Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will resign after 10 seasons with the Sky Blues, the English Premier League soccer franchise announced Friday. Guardiola's contract was to run until June 2027.
But the 55-year-old will coach the Sky Blues for the final time when they host Aston Villa in their Premier League finale May 24 in Manchester, England. He will remain with the franchise as a global ambassador. "It has been the experience of my life.
Otherwise, it wouldn't have been 10 years," Guardiola told reporters at a news conference Friday. "I can't be more grateful for the amount of love and affection I've had for many, many years. " Guardiola said he thought about making the decision "for a while.
" He also said a new face leading the Sky Blues will be "really good for everyone. " "I think the club needs a new manager, new energy, with the incredible players that we have right now," Guardiola said. "Start to write another chapter.
" Guardiola won 20 trophies with the Sky Blues, including six Premier League crowns, five League Cups, three FA Cups, three FA Community Shields, a Champions League title, a UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. That stretch included a rare treble -- with the Sky Blues winning the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup in 2022-23. They added to that haul with UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup titles, becoming the first English team in history to win soccer's five biggest club competitions in a calendar year.