Pep Guardiola to Leave Manchester City After FA Cup and Carabao Cup Wins as Enzo Maresca Emerges
After a decade filled with trophies and record-breaking achievements, Pep Guardiola is expected to leave Manchester City at the end of the season.
Manchester City are preparing for Pep Guardiola’s departure, with Enzo Maresca tipped to become the club’s next manager.
Sources familiar with the situation indicate Guardiola is preparing to depart this summer despite having a contract running until June 2027. His exit would conclude one of the most successful managerial spells English football has seen.
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City’s FA Cup final victory over Chelsea FC on Saturday delivered Guardiola’s 20th major trophy with the club. Combined with their Carabao Cup success earlier this season, the campaign has added more silverware to an already historic era.
Attention has now turned toward Guardiola’s successor, with Enzo Maresca expected to step into the role. The former Chelsea head coach had already been identified in December by The Athletic as a leading candidate amid increasing belief Guardiola could leave.
Maresca later informed Chelsea that he had been in contact with Manchester City representatives regarding the managerial position before eventually leaving Stamford Bridge in January.
The Italian previously worked under Guardiola at City. He coached the club’s Under-21 side during the 2020-21 campaign before returning in 2022 as part of Guardiola’s first-team coaching staff.
Maresca arrived at Chelsea in 2024 after earning promotion to the Premier League with Leicester City FC. During his debut season in west London, he secured Champions League qualification and guided Chelsea to Conference League and Club World Cup success.
Although tied to a contract until 2029, Maresca left Chelsea on January 1. Weeks earlier, he had publicly voiced frustration over criticism surrounding the club.
“The 48 hours before Everton was my worst since I joined the club, because many people didn’t support us,” Maresca had said in December.
Chelsea subsequently appointed Liam Rosenior, who departed RC Strasbourg Alsace for the opportunity before later being dismissed in April.
Meanwhile, Guardiola’s final weeks at Manchester City could still include another Premier League title. The club sit two points behind leaders Arsenal FC with matches remaining against AFC Bournemouth and Aston Villa FC.
The Aston Villa fixture on May 24 may become Guardiola’s farewell at the Etihad and could also determine the destination of the title if City overturn Arsenal’s advantage.
Despite widespread speculation, Guardiola repeatedly avoided confirming his plans publicly. Asked before the FA Cup final whether Wembley would be his last visit there as City manager, he replied: “One more year of contract,”
After the victory over Chelsea, he again dismissed questions regarding his future by responding: “Rumours?,” before saying: “Have a lovely evening,” and leaving the interview.
Guardiola’s anticipated departure arrives during an ongoing investigation into more than 115 alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations by Manchester City. The club continue to deny all allegations.
City have also undergone significant changes behind the scenes. Former director of football Txiki Begiristain departed at the end of last season and was replaced by Hugo Viana from Sporting CP.
Before arriving at Manchester City in 2016, Guardiola managed FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Although he had recently spoken positively about continuing at City, uncertainty persisted.
“I still enjoy it,” Guardiola said after the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal. “Still, we are much better than last season but not the team we should be. That requires time. Hopefully, next season and the end of this season we can do it.”
Recent campaigns have shown signs of decline compared to City’s dominant years. After winning a fourth straight league title in 2023-24, they finished third the following season, 13 points behind champions Liverpool FC.
That season ended without silverware, while City also suffered elimination from the Club World Cup at the hands of Al Hilal SFC.
This term brought further inconsistency. City endured a four-match winless run in the Premier League, including defeat to rivals Manchester United FC, and were beaten 3-1 by FK Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League.
Still, Guardiola’s side managed to capture the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, ensuring his final season at Manchester City closes with more trophies before a likely managerial handover to Maresca.
