Manchester City Confirm Guardiola Exit After 17 Trophies as Rivals Sense Premier League Power Shift
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 23
Manchester City Confirm Guardiola Exit After 17 Trophies as Rivals Sense Premier League Power Shift
9 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 23
Manchester City confirmed Pep Guardiola will leave after a decade in which he won 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League.
Rival fans told BBC Sport his exit brings both relief and respect, describing him as a dominant force who raised standards across English football even among clubs trying to beat him.
Manchester United supporters said the departure could open a chance to reclaim local supremacy, while Liverpool and Arsenal fans argued the title barrier may ease after years of 90-plus-point races.
Chelsea fans pointed to Guardiola's wider influence beyond City, saying his methods shaped hiring decisions, coaching trends and squad-building across the league.
With former assistant Enzo Maresca expected to replace him, Guardiola leaves a vacancy at City but a lasting imprint on the Premier League's competitive and tactical landscape.
With Klopp and Guardiola gone, has the Premier League’s era of untouchable, 95+ point champions ended?
Will Guardiola’s celebrated City era be defined by trophies or the 115 unresolved financial charges?
Manchester City After Guardiola: 20 Trophies, Maresca’s Challenge, and a Shifting Premier League
Overview
On May 23, 2026, Manchester City officially announced Pep Guardiola's departure, ending a transformative era for the club. For months, media speculation and subtle hints from Guardiola signaled this change, which had been a long time in the making. Despite his insistence on having a year left on his contract, his exit was anticipated. Guardiola leaves behind an unparalleled legacy, having won 20 trophies, including three Community Shields, and guiding City to historic achievements such as the treble. His departure marks a significant turning point, closing a chapter of unprecedented success for Manchester City.