No matter what happens this season, Pep Guardiola will go down in history as one of the best – if not the best – managers.
The Spaniard has won titles in Spain, Germany and England but could call time on his Manchester City future, as his contract ends on June 30, 2025.
Since joining City on a three-year deal in 2016, Guardiola signed extensions in May 2018, November 2020, and November 2022.
Since then, he has delivered 18 trophies, including the treble in 2022-2023 – league title, FA Cup, and Champions League.
City is the only English club to win four consecutive top-flight league crowns and is seeking to make it five in a row this season.
However, the threat of relegation is hanging over City as it battles the 115 charges brought against it by the Premier League for “allegedly breaching its financial regulations” dating back to 2009.
Manchester City and the Premier League claimed victory on Oct 7 after the champion challenged the English top flight’s rules on commercial deals. That case is unrelated to the 115 charges, and a verdict is due before the end of this season.
Among the potential penalties for City if it loses the case is relegation to the third tier, a points deduction at the start of the 2025-2026 season, a hefty fine, and a transfer ban.
That could have a bearing on whether Guardiola stays or goes. In July this year, he said he wanted to “look at how everything is going and how connected we are” before deciding on his future.
However, news broke on Oct 9 that Guardiola’s close friend and Manchester City director of football, Txiki Begiristain, will leave the club in the summer.
Begiristain has been with City since 2012 and was instrumental in luring Guardiola to City in 2016.
Guardiola said he signed his contract extension because of his friendship with Begiristain, who was also instrumental in getting him the Barcelona job in 2008.
The duo were teammates with Barcelona and the Spanish national team.
Last weekend, during City’s 3-2 victory over Fulham, the home fans displayed a banner at Etihad Stadium pleading for ‘the GOAT’ (greatest of all time) to stay at the club.
Asked about his thoughts on the banner and whether he was going to leave, Guardiola told a press conference: “When it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.”
City fans will hope it happens later rather than sooner.
Main image by Manchester City.
