Man City held a farewell open bus parade and Co-op event to bid farewell to Pep Guardiola
Catalan leaves Man City this summer after a successful decade that saw him win 20 titles
Former City skippers Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho attended to pay tribute to Guardiola
Manchester City bid an emotional farewell to outgoing manager Pep Guardiola on Monday as players from past and present alike gathered to pay homage to the Catalan.
Guardiola brought the curtain down on an illustrious decade at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, managing his 593rd game as Manchester City boss in a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa.
The Catalan’s departure was confirmed on Friday last week and tributes have since poured in as English football witnesses one of its all-time great managers depart after a trophy-laden era of domination that saw Guardiola win 20 major trophies at City.
After Sunday’s post-match scenes saw Bernardo Silva and John Stones also say their final goodbyes to the Manchester City faithful, here are the best bits from Monday’s open bus parade and subsequent Co-op celebrations.
The streets of Manchester were lined up with City fans to celebrate the men’s team’s Carabao Cup and FA Cup double win – as well as the women’s team’s WSL title triumph.
Stones and Silva graced the ‘Stones and Silva’ pub opened in their honour as the legendary City duo leave the club as free agents.
Manuel Estiarte is one of three backroom staff exits Manchester City have confirmed in addition to Guardiola, with Xabier Mancisidor and Lorenzo Buenaventura also leaving the club this summer.
Premier League Golden Boot winner Erling Haaland had his fun, nearly dropping a Premier League trophy hours later at the Co-op event.
Rayan Cherki has enjoyed one of the best debut seasons a Manchester City player has managed under Guardiola, playing an instrumental role in the club’s cup double triumph and title race run till the final week of the season.
Marc Guehi has been as impactful a mid-season signing as any Manchester City have made under their Abu Dhabi ownership, seamlessly integrating into Guardiola’s ranks and starting every Premier League match bar one since his £20 million January arrival from Crystal Palace.
Gianluigi Donnarumma had big shoes to fill when he completed an eleventh hour move to City from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day last summer – and Italian has passed with flying colours after a very convincing debut season at the Etihad Stadium.
“Why do you do this to me, why do you love me so much?!”
The English Connection
Though Ruben Dias endured a frustrating, injury-riddled year, Jeremy Doku enjoyed a coming-of-age season and enters what is looking like the Enzo Maresca era as one of the first names on the teamsheet.
One of the most improved players in the Premier League this season and a disappointing absentee from the Premier League Young Player of the Season shortlist.
One is on his way out, could the other also follow?
Off to the FIFA World Cup after battling hard against injuries to prove their fitness in time for a big summer!
Johnny, Johnny Stones!
Our cup double winning captain!
The parade arrives at Co-op!
Rodri can be proud of how many minutes he got in the locker despite recurring fitness setbacks following his lengthy ACL lay-off – Real Madrid calling?
Noel Gallagher: “One more year, Pep!”?
O Captains My Captains!
Super Jacky Grealish!
The man who engineered it all, Txiki Begiristain
Ederson gets his flowers
What a start to Antoine Semenyo‘s Manchester City career it has been!
Don’t cry because it’s ending, smile because it happened…
Manchester City Football Club. Fin.