This is the moment Manchester City have been dreading, but the whole of English football is going to miss Pep Guardiola too.

Pep is one of the best managers we've ever seen. The greatest ever? Well, it's hard to disrespect Sir Alex Ferguson when you have that conversation, but those were different times - Pep's the greatest manager of the modern era, that's for sure.

When he replaced Manuel Pellegrini in 2016, City already had some very good players so he was not starting from scratch, but he did not just go on to dominate English football for a decade, he changed it too.

Now everyone plays the way City do, passing out from the back. That didn't happen before he arrived.

Pep's never been afraid to move people around either. He sees the player, not the position, I guess, and makes them an important part of his system and style, in the way he wants to use them.

When it works it is incredible. Like the 2023 Champions League final when City beat Inter Milan in arguably the biggest game in the club's history, and he had a centre-half - John Stones - essentially playing in midfield.

He sees things like that which other managers would never even think of trying. Things that don't appear obvious to us, are to him. And he has done it consistently over the years.

After his first season in England when he didn't win anything and City only made the top four, everyone was saying how his style wouldn't work here, and you can't play that way in the Premier League.

They were wrong, and he has won everything he wanted to win - and kept on winning too.

Read more of Micah Richards' column here

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Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Maybe it has gone under the radar, but as part of the renaming of the North Stand, a statue of Pep will also be commissioned and feature on the approach to the Pep Guardiola Stand.

And the significance of the moment has meant a rare quote from City owner Sheikh Mansour.

“I said a long time ago that Manchester City should have the very best people at its disposal, both on and off the field. For ten years Pep has been the personification of that ambition,” he said.

“He has made an indelible imprint on the DNA of the club. One that is borne more from how he won than from the many trophies he lifted.

“He has the unending gratitude of myself and the entire City family, a family of which he will always be part.”

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We are still waiting to see how Noel Gallagher - referenced by Pep Guardiola as one of the first people to interview him following his appointment in 2016 - will mark the Spaniard's departure.

But Noel's younger brother, Liam, lead singer of Oasis, has posted a tribute on X, written in capitals:

"He came, he conquered. Long live the king. Thank you for the good times Pep."

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

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The signs have certainly pointed to a departure in the past week or so.

Last Friday, Pep Guardiola was asked whether the following day's visit to Wembley Stadium would be his last - Guardiola said "no way" because he has "one more year [on his contract]".

But the playful way in which he delivered that line and his quick exit from the room raised a few eyebrows and only added to the mounting speculation.

City won the FA Cup for the third time under Guardiola by beating Chelsea on Saturday and, perhaps significantly, he took a picture holding the trophy with each member of staff one by one.

The cameras also caught him wistfully looking into the distance when the trophy celebrations were taking place on the pitch, as he took in his final moments at the national stadium.

And I asked him after the draw at Bournemouth on Tuesday whether he will still be in charge for Sunday and Guardiola replied by saying he has to talk to his chairman in the next few days.

He surely would have answered by saying "I'm staying" if he was.

There was nothing but respect from England manager Thomas Tuchel for Pep Guardiola.

The pair have faced each other several times over the years during their time in the Bundesliga, and later in England after Tuchel arrived at Chelsea, including the 2020-21 Champions League final.

"One of the very, very best," said Tuchel after announcing the England squad for the 2026 World Cup.

"He made a big revolution with the way he played at Barcelona, then turned everything upside down in the Bundesliga. Then he came here and crushed every record.

"There are no words to describe this level of determination and this level of input. It’s the highest, highest level."

Manchester City

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Pep Guardiola will have a stand at the Etihad Stadium named in his honour after announcing his decision to leave Manchester City after 10 years at the helm.

The club have confirmed that the North Stand will become 'The Pep Guardiola Stand' after the Spanish tactician, who led the club to their first Champions League title.

The expanded section of the Etihad is set to open fully for the first time on Sunday when City host Aston Villa on the final day of the Premier League season.

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

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Confirmation of the worst kept secret in football - aside from the England World Cup squad - has finally arrived with the news that Pep Guardiola will lead out Manchester City for the final time on Sunday.

A mere 10 minutes after Manchester United confirmed Michael Carrick as permanent head coach, City sent out a press release that all their fans had been dreading.

The Spaniard has overseen an incredible decade, winning 20 a total of trophies, but there may be a tinge of regret that his side could not overhaul Arsenal at the top of the table.

But how long has he known? When did he communicate his decision to the players and what comes next in his career?

We'll find out when he faces the cameras this afternoon around 13:30 BST.

Manchester City

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Manchester City have already put plans in place to allow supporters to say goodbye to manager Pep Guardiola, while also celebrating the achievements of the men's, women's and academy teams this season.

The club will hold an open-top bus parade on Monday, 25 May from the city's Northern Quarter to Etihad Stadium.

City players and all three managers - Guardiola, women's boss Andree Jeglertz and under-21s coach Oliver Reiss - will be presented to a crowd in the middle of the city at 16:00 BST, where there will be live music and a big screen.

They will then leave on an open-top bus from 17:00 BST and parade their trophies through the streets of east Manchester, culminating with a reception in front of the Colin Bell Stand at the club's Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola has helped the men's team win the FA Cup and Carabao Cup this season, while the women's team won the WSL and play the FA Cup final on 31 May, while the club's youngsters won the FA Youth Cup.

The Spaniard will then be the honoured guest at a ticketed 'After Party' event at the Co-op Live Arena, which is adjacent to the stadium, from 18:30 until 20:00.

Pep Guardiola made a habit of winning the Premier League during his time at Manchester City.

He has won the title six times - 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 - with only Sir Alex Ferguson (13) winning more.

Manchester City

Image source, Manchester City FC

Pep Guardiola signed an initial three-year contract with Manchester City in February 2016 to take over from Manuel Pellegrini for the start of the 2016-17 season.

Though he finished that campaign without a trophy for the first time in his career - and also went trophyless last season - his City side have otherwise largely dominated English football during his reign.

City are the only team to reach 100 points in a Premier League season - doing so in 2017-18, when they also set the record for the most goals scored in a campaign, with 106.

In 2022-23, City became only the second English team in history, after Manchester United in 1998-99, to complete the Treble - winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season.

Guardiola's City later became the first team to win the English league title four seasons in a row with their triumph in the 2023-24 campaign.

The former Spain international signed a two-year contract extension in November 2024, until the end of the 2026-27 season.

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Spanish football expert Guillem Balague on Pep Guardiola's leaving statement, which he believes the Catalan wrote himself as he's a very "creative" writer.

"It's emotional because when he talks about the attack at Manchester Arena he doesn't mention that he couldn't get in touch with his daughter and his wife so he didn't know what had happened to them,2 Balague told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"He had to run and push and try to find them.

"In the middle of the chaos, he understood the shock and sense of community with everyone helping each other. I think that is one of the recent reasons why he fell in love with the city of Manchester and the people of Manchester."

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola made a whole host of cultural references to a city he has made his home over the past 10 years in announcing his decision to step down as manager.

From Oasis, Noel Gallagher and poet Tony Walsh to women's voting rights campaigner Emeline Pankhurst and the Industrial Revolution, the 55-year-old Spaniard spoke passionately about his love of Manchester - not just Manchester City Football Club.

"When I arrived, my first interview was with Noel Gallagher. I walked out thinking, ‘Okay… Noel is here? This will be fun'," Guardiola started.

He added: "This is a city built from work. From graft. You see it in the colour of the bricks. From people who clocked in early, stayed late. The factories. The Pankhursts. The unions. The music. Simply the Industrial Revolution and how this changed the world. And I think I grew to understand that, and my teams did too.

"We worked. We suffered. We fought. And we did things our own way. Our way."

Ian Dennis
BBC Radio 5 Live senior football reporter

From Pep Guardiola’s point of view it’s been believed for a long time that he was leaving at the end of the season but Manchester City have confirmed it. It will bring to an end to what has been a glorious spell for the club and Guardiola.

He’s been in charge for a decade, he’s brought twenty trophies to Manchester City and he will be a loss to them, and a massive loss to the Premier League. He leaves a lasting legacy in the Premier League with his style of play that has filtered all the way down.

Manchester City

“When I arrived, my first interview was with Noel Gallagher. I walked out thinking, ‘Okay… Noel is here? This will be fun,’” Guardiola said.

“And what a time we have had together. Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it’s my time. 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.

“This is a city built from work. From graft. You see it in the colour of the bricks. From people who clocked in early, stayed late. The factories. The Pankhursts. The unions. The music. Simply the Industrial Revolution and how this changed the world. And I think I grew to understand that, and my teams did too.

“We worked. We suffered. We fought. And we did things our own way. Our way.

“Hard work comes in many forms. Trips to Bournemouth, when we lost the Premier League, and you were there. Trips to Istanbul, when you were there, too.

“Remember, the Manchester Arena attack, when this city showed the world what strength actually looks like? Not anger. Not fear. Just love. Community. Togetherness. A city united.

“Remember, losing my mum during COVID and feeling this club carry me through it. The fans, the staff, the people of Manchester, you gave me strength when I needed it most. Cris, my kids, my whole family, you were there as always. Khaldoon, you were there too.

“Players don’t forget - every single instant, moment, me, my staff, this club, everything. What we have done, we have done it for all of you. And you have been just exceptional. You don’t know it yet, but you are leaving a legacy.

“So as my time comes to an end, be happy. Oasis are back again.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for trusting me.

“Thank you for pushing me.

“Thank you for loving me.

“Tony Walsh said in his unforgettable poem this is the place. I’m sorry, Tony: this is my place.

“Noel…I was right.

“It has been so [expletive] fun.

“Love you all.”

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