Man City have officially announced that Pep Guardiola will depart the Etihad at the end of the 2025/2026 season.
Ferguson and Guardiola at Wembley in 2023.
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Manchester United's legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson messaged Pep Guardiola to congratulate him on his 10 years in charge of Manchester City ahead of his departure from the club.
On Friday morning, it was officially confirmed that Guardiola will leave City at the end of the season. The Catalan won 20 trophies during his time in charge, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League.
Guardiola arrived in Manchester in 2016, having previously managed Bayern Munich and Barcelona. He will be remembered alongside Ferguson as one of the greatest managers in the sport's history.
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Ferguson retired three years before Guardiola was appointed by City, but the pair clashed during the latter's time in charge of Barcelona. United met Barca in the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals and lost both games.
The Scot was magnanimous in defeat after losing 3-1 in the 2011 final at Wembley, saying: "In my time as manager, this is the best team we've faced – I think everyone acknowledges that and I accept that."
And Guardiola revealed during his final City press conference on Friday that Ferguson had been in touch to congratulate him on his time in Manchester.
“One of the biggest compliments I had: I got a message from Sir Alex Ferguson yesterday. That made me so happy," Guardiola said.
When asked about the message said, he added: "A Scottish accent, I didn't understand it! I will call him back. Congratulations for the trajectory and for what we achieved. It means a lot to me.
"He is the greatest in this country. The tenure, the time, and for many, many reasons... I'm happy that Sir Alex Ferguson, the greatest could [see]... I'm pretty sure [to] Sir Alex we are not the 'noisy neighbours', we are the 'neighbours'. Just 'the neighbours'. And I'm happy that he has been watching."
Speaking in 2009, Ferguson was asked if City could become the top dogs in Manchester, and he famously replied: "Not in my lifetime." City have won seven Premier League titles since United last lifted the trophy.
United have won the FA Cup twice, the League Cup twice and the Europa League, but a genuine Premier League title tilt has eluded them.