Pep Guardiola will stand down as Man City manager after the final game of the season, according to reports.
The *Daily Mail*‘s Oliver Holt was the first to break the news that Guardiola will leave City this summer, with the Athletic‘s David Ornstein quickly following up to corroborate.
An exit announcement expected “sometime on Sunday” as City host Aston Villa, which will also likely see Pep Lijnders move on after joining Guardiola’s backroom staff this season.
Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is “expected” to replace the Spaniard.
Maresca was assistant to Guardiola during City’s treble-winning campaign in 2022/23, and has been out of work since January after admitting he held talks to take over at the Etihad.
According to the Press Association, City “are not commenting” on the new reports, with their position unchanged as Guardiola still has a year remaining on his contract.
The Spaniard currently holds the title of the longest-serving manager in the Premier League after nearly 10 years, a title he inherited after Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool in 2024.
Pep Guardiola’s record vs. Liverpool
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 25, 2023: Manchester City's manager Josep 'Pep' Guardiola (R) shakes hands with Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp during the FA Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Guardiola’s battles with Klopp’s Liverpool defined the recent era of the Premier League, and the German may be cursing his luck that the Spaniard is only just leaving!
City, who are still awaiting the verdict on more than 115 alleged financial breaches, twice beat the Reds to the league title by a single point in a five-year spell.
The record against Guardiola reads as 10 wins and 10 losses, with seven games finishing as a draw.
While there was no love lost when the two teams met, mutual respect has always existed.
Pep Guardiola vs. Liverpool: The Record
Competition P W D L
Premier League 18 6 7 5
Champions League 2 0 0 2
Domestic Cups* 7 4 0 3
Total 27 10 7 10
*Includes FA Cup, League Cup, and Community Shield. Swipe left/right to view full table on mobile.
“Liverpool, especially with Jurgen, have been the biggest rivals in this country and it could not be better, to be honest. So destiny decided that and it’s nice to live it,” Guardiola recently reflected.
“In terms of Jurgen’s side or Pep’s side, I think we respected each other. I had the feeling that Jurgen gave me a lot and I miss him.
“He gave me a lot in sense of, to beat that guy, how much I have to think and work and do it, to make it better.”
Anfield drove Guardiola to the brink of insanity on more than one occasion, and perhaps that is why he only ever won twice on Liverpool’s home soil, including a behind-closed-doors match in 2021.