Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City at the end of the season after a decade in charge, the club announced on Friday, bringing an end to one of the most successful eras in English football and one of the most influential managerial terms of all time.
Guardiola, who took charge of City in 2016, has won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups and the Champions League.
"Don't ask me the reasons I'm leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it's my time," Guardiola said in a statement.
"Nothing is eternal, if it was, I would be here. Eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City.
"We worked. We suffered. We fought. And we did things our own way. Our way."
Although City sealed the domestic cup double, Guardiola saw his dreams of a seventh Premier League crown dashed when they drew 1-1 at Bournemouth on Tuesday to hand Arsenal the title.
According to the statement issued on Friday, despite his departure as manager of Manchester City, Guardiola will continue his relationship with the City Football Group, by taking up a role as a Global Ambassador.
The role will see him giving technical advice to the clubs in the group, working on specific projects and collaborations.
Commenting on the news, Manchester City Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said: “Over the last ten years honesty and trust have formed the bedrock on which we have navigated every situation together with Pep – always understanding that we could find the right answer together. Today the right answer is for Pep to finish his journey as the Manager of Manchester City.
“There have been points along the way when he could have stopped, and it would have been enough. Somehow, Pep always found new energy and pushed on, finding different and innovative ways to continue winning and delivering success."
Chief executive officer Ferran Soriano said: "Pep’s legacy is extraordinary and its true impact will be better assessed by Manchester City historians of the future.”
(with inputs from Reuters)
