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Another award for the collection.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been presented with an honorary degree by the University of Manchester.
The Man City boss and club legend was given the accolade in a ceremony this week in recognition of the “extraordinary contribution” to local sport and the city in general.
Since arriving at the Etihad Stadium nearly a decade ago, the Catalan head coach has overseen the most decorated period in the team’s history, broken a litany of records and changed how the English game is played significantly.
His time at City has also seen their success and revenue generation spill over into East Manchester as a whole, too, with the area being significantly developed and regenerated. He was presented with the degree by the University’s Chancellor, Nazir Afzal.
Speaking via the institution, he said, “I have lived the best moments of my life, I would say”, right here in Greater Manchester and even admitted he’s come to “love the rain and the dark days and nights.”
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Damn right.
“I know how important the University of Manchester is to our city. It’s the home to a lot of research, and it has a history of discovery. So, honestly, to be honoured in this way by such an esteemed institution is an amazing feeling.
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“I want to thank everyone at the University of Manchester for this moment – and I want to thank everyone at Manchester City for their constant support.”
Addressing the audience inside Manchester’s beautiful Whitworth Hall, he described being recognised with the award as an “amazing feeling”, going on to express just how much the city and the community mean to him.
“I have spent nine years here and it has become home. The people, the culture, my incredible football club, my colleagues… it is all so special to me and my family.
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“When I arrived here in 2016, I did not know how long I would spend here. The way this city embraced me made everything easy. My time here has been beautiful.”
The 45-year-old also took time to speak on important issues like the Ukraine war, suffering in Sudan and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Pep Guardiola delivered a powerful speech while receiving an honorary degree from the University of Manchester, where he spoke about the suffering in Sudan, Ukraine, and the ongoing genocide in Gaza.@PepTeam pic.twitter.com/IdLXFsNaa5
— Leyla Hamed (@leylahamed) June 9, 2025
Pep Guardiola, while receiving an honorary degree from the University of Manchester:
“It’s so painful what we see in Gaza, it hurts all my body. It’s not about ideology but the love of life. It’s about refusing to be silent or still when it matters the most”@PepTeam pic.twitter.com/HlC5q1adi5
— Leyla Hamed (@leylahamed) June 10, 2025
Touching on the latter, specifically, he added: “It’s so painful what we see in Gaza. It hurts all [of] my body. Let me be clear; it’s not about ideology, about I’m right and you’re wrong. Come on, it’s just about the love of life, the care of your neighbour.”
He also went on to cite ‘**The Brave Little Parrot**‘ (sometimes simply referred to as ‘The Bird in the Forest here in the West’) – one of the famous Jātaka Tales taken from the original collection of 550 morality stories from centuries-old Buddhist literature.
Unsurprisingly, the Spaniard has been heaped with praise for using his platform for good and shedding light on humanitarian crises; as for UoM itself, you can read what they had to say about him in full HERE.
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So, while he may have finally spent a season without silverware – although his side could still go on to win the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup – he’s still managed to walk away with another impressive personal achievement.
Congratulations to Pep Guardiola on his honorary degree, but it’s worth noting he’s not the only City icon being celebrated this week either…
Best minute-to-trophies won ratio in the game and an absolute icon living. 🙌 😅
Read more here. 👉 https://t.co/2DO7UCNKDt#ManCity #MCFC pic.twitter.com/ST7ZPljgV5
— The Manc (@TheMancUK) June 9, 2025
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Featured Images — University of Manchester
Sport
Manchester City cult hero Scott Carson is leaving the club after six seasons Danny Jones Danny Jones Scott Carson leaving Man City
A Manchester City fan favourite and cult figure’s time at the club has come to an end as Scott Carson will be leaving the club after more than half a decade.
The veteran goalkeeper, who started out life at Leeds United before going on to represent the likes of West Brom, Wigan Athletic and Derby County among several other clubs, has been the reserve shot-stopper at Man City for six seasons.
He arrived at the Etihad Stadium on loan back in 2019 before being made a permanent signing and part of the keeper rotation in the summer of 2021.
Despite very rarely playing for the team and mainly serving as a more of a senior statesman, trainer and would-be goalkeeping coach, he’s remained a popular figure in the dressing room through his time in East Manchester, and his departure has been met with nothing but a flood of fondness and gratitude.
Part of the reason his status at the club has been such a case of fascination is that he’s essentially landed the dream job in the twilight of his career.
Having made just two appearances over the course of nearly six whole years, completing a total of just 108 minutes, he quite literally has one of the best money earned and trophies earned per minute ratios on the planet.
With the 11 accolades he won as part of **Pep Guardiola**‘s set-up, he averaged a piece of silverware for every 9.8 minutes played at the club.
To put that into even wider context, that’s a better rate than the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry and many others…
Again, we repeat, Scott Carson is absolutely living the life, and the supporters have been there right along with him, loving absolutely every second of it.
Case and point:
pic.twitter.com/ELLKIEkR17
— FUTBIN (@FUTBIN) June 9, 2025
pic.twitter.com/RRKryWKpbd
— Odds On Anything (@OddsOnAnything) June 9, 2025
You will be missed scott 🐐 pic.twitter.com/juo3zPzQ2T
— ViciousVerstappen #MCFC #Redbull (@VerstappenMCFC) June 9, 2025
Confirming his departure in an official statement, the club wrote: “During his time at City, Carson has been praised by goalkeeping coach Xabi Mancisidor and peers Ederson and Stefan Ortega Moreno for his work ethic and the effect of his positive attitude amongst the group.
He has been part of a squad that has lifted 12 major honours over the last six seasons during what has been a historic period of success for Pep Guardiola’s team. Everyone at Manchester City would like to thank Scott for his hard work and dedication and wish him the very best of luck for the future.”
With his contract expiring amid the 2025 summer transfer window, he leaves City as a free agent at the age of 39; it remains to be seen whether or not he will be searching for a new club.
One thing we do know is that he’s had a ball of a time in blue.
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Featured Images — Scott Carson (via Instagram)/England/FA TV (screenshot via YouTube)
Sport
Manchester City set for first signing of the summer as Rayan Aït-Nouri completes medical Danny Jones Danny Jones Rayan Ait-Nouri to Manchester City medical done
Manchester City look to have finally signed an out-and-out left-back as Rayan Aït-Nouri is said to have completed his medical ahead of a move to the Etihad Stadium.
The French-born defender is expected to join Man City on a five-year deal worth a reported £31 million, including add-on fees of approximately £5m, becoming the first new signing ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.
City spent significantly in the January window after chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak argued they weren’t aggressive enough last summer, and they look to continue rebuilding the squad following several key departures, not least of all Kevin De Bruyne.
Although the transfer is yet to be officially confirmed by the club, multiple outlets have now covered the Wolverhampton Wanderers wing-back being bound for the blue half of Manchester.
Rayan Ait Nouri has completed his medical with Manchester City and is expected to sign a five-year deal 📝 pic.twitter.com/sqBU43d7D7
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 8, 2025
Having come through the youth system at Angers FC in Ligue 1, the versatile fullback was loaned to Wolves back in 2021 before being signed permanently later that same year.
The 24-year-old has made more than 150 appearances in ‘Old Gold’ since then, registering 12 goals and 19 assists, and has played for Algeria eight times after declaring allegiance back in 2022, despite having already represented ‘Les Bleus’.
More precisely, it’s the dynamism of Aït-Nouri that has seen him shortlisted by several clubs of late, with Pep Guardiola regularly deploying his fullbacks as utility players in his ever-fluid system.
Even in an often faltering Wolves side, he contributed to more goal involvements than any other defender in the league during 2024/25; created the fourth-most chances from a player in the backline, the second-most dribbles and won back possession in the final third more than any other defender.
Nevertheless, he still looks set to be one of the most orthodox left-backs City have signed in years – with the club having struggled for strength in depth in that area for some time – using the likes of Joško Gvardiol (the best fit), Nico O’Reilly and Nathan Aké in that position most recently.
Quick, confident on the ball and strong in the tackle, he’s tailor-made for bombing down the flanks and creating plenty of those trademark cut-back finishes for Pep’s attackers. While they already have plenty of options going forward, Khaldoon has insisted there will be “several” more signings all over the pitch.
Where else would you like to see improvements?
Aït-Nouri is expected to pen his City contract on Sunday, 8 June, meaning he will most likely be the first of a quickfire trio of new signings in the first half of June, with two other deals also believed to be close to being done.
In addition to long-admired target Tijjani Reijnders reportedly also undergoing his medical this weekend, another Rayan and fellow French-Algerian in Lyon’s Cherki, who is thought to be making a £30m move to play under the Catalan coach.
On the other hand, we wouldn’t be too surprised to see all three players unveiled in a single day, similar to what we saw just a few months ago.
What do you make of the business, Blues?
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Featured Images — Æthelred (via Wikimedia Commons)/Premier League (screenshot via YouTube)
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