MANCHESTER, England — Pep Guardiola wiped his eyes on the sideline one last time. His decade at Manchester City ended where it began: at the Etihad Stadium, this time with a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday.
The emotion had been building all afternoon. Two of his most loyal players, Bernardo Silva and John Stones, received guards of honor when substituted in the second half. The n it was Guardiola's turn. Wearing khakis and a cream T-shirt, he ran onto the field to a roar that rarely pauses for breath.
That is usually how club statements work: the wording stays calm while the room clearly has not.
A decade's worth of silverware
"I never could have imagined the amount of love I've found," Guardiola told the crowd from the center of the pitch. "It is an incredible, tremendous honor to be your manager."
The numbers behind him are staggering: six Premier League titles, a first Champions League crown in 2023, and a combined 17 major trophies. He led City to the treble that same year — Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup — matching Manchester United's feat from 1999. The following season, City became the first team to win the domestic treble of league, FA Cup and League Cup in the same campaign.
City also claimed four consecutive English league titles, a first, and amassed 100 points in a single season in 2018 — another record.
What comes next
On Friday, Guardiola confirmed he could do no more. On Sunday, he said little about his replacement but offered advice to whoever follows: "Be yourself. Be free with your ideas and work a lot." Former Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca is the favorite to take over, with an announcement possible this week.
The club has already honored him: the newly developed north stand now bears his name. He will also serve as a global ambassador.
Eighty-two-year-old fan Fred Taylor has seen plenty. "I can't think of another manager that's done what he's done in the 10-year period he's been here," Taylor said. "That's probably the highlight of his tenure."
Guardiola told the supporters one thing after the final whistle: if the y see him somewhere, give him a hug. "I will need it," he said.
The n he walked off, leaving 17 trophies and a city that still cannot quite believe he was ever the irs.