Pep Guardiola fights back tears and says goodbye as Man City fans implore him to stay 10 more years

MANCHESTER, England (AP) 鈥� Pep Guardiola fought back tears on the sideline as he on Sunday.

His final game ended in a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa on a day charged with emotion as he said goodbye to the fans he gave so much joy during a in English soccer.

鈥淚 never could have imagined the amount of love I’ve found,鈥� said Guardiola, standing in the center of the field at the Etihad Stadium and addressing the crowd. 鈥淚t is an incredible, tremendous honor to be your manager, to be here 10 years.鈥�

The tears started long before the final whistle, with Guardiola welling up and rubbing his eyes as two of his most loyal servants, Bernardo Silva and John Stones, also said farewell and were given guards of honor when substituted in the second half.

Then it was his turn to receive a guard of honor of his own.

鈥淭his is the man who changed everything,鈥� the stadium announcer said as Guardiola ran onto the field wearing khakis and a cream T-shirt, with fans cheering wildly.

鈥�10 more years,” they chanted, prompting Guardiola to shake his head in defiance.

After 17 major trophies and records galore, on Friday he confirmed he could do no more. After turning City into the most dominant Premier League team of its generation and a champion of Europe for the first time, he said the time was right to hand over the reins.

鈥淚 will not miss it for a while,鈥� he said Sunday. 鈥淚 feel deeply… it is the right decision.鈥�

Guardiola’s day

Former Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca, who won the Club World Cup last year, is favorite to take over with an announcement possibly in the coming week.

Guardiola did not confirm his replacement, but said he would call his successor to offer advice.

鈥淏e yourself… be free with your ideas and work a lot. Everything will be fine,鈥� he said.

That is for another day. This day was about Guardiola and the chance for supporters to show their appreciation.

鈥淗e means everything to me and this club. It鈥檚 absolutely brilliant what he鈥檚 done for it,鈥� City fan Fred Taylor, 82, told The Associated Press. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 think of another manager that鈥檚 done what he鈥檚 done in the 10-year period he鈥檚 been here.鈥�

Guardiola joined City in the summer of 2016 and has led the Abu Dhabi-owned team to six Premier League titles and a first Champions League crown in 2023.

鈥淭hat’s what we always wanted … we鈥檇 never done it,鈥� said Taylor. 鈥淭hat was probably the highlight of his tenure.鈥�

Guardiola’s trophy haul included a domestic double this season of the English League Cup and the FA Cup. He led City to the treble in 2023, winning the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup 鈥� matching Manchester United鈥檚 feat from more than 20 years earlier in 1999.

First to 100 points

There were other benchmarks. City became the first team to win four straight English leagues and the first to amass 100 points in a single season in 2018. The following year City was the first team to win the domestic treble of the league, FA Cup and League Cup in the same season.

Those are big shoes to fill, but Guardiola said expectations of his successor should be realistic.

鈥淔ans don鈥檛 forget that winning the treble, doubles is exceptional,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t is so difficult, this business is so complicated. That鈥檚 why when you come here, you win one game, here in the Etihad – enjoy it. Celebrate it.鈥�

More than just trophies, Guardiola has connected with City fans, telling them Sunday to hug him if they ever see him in the future, saying 鈥淚 will need it.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to describe, it鈥檚 someone you don鈥檛 actually know, but you feel like you do know,鈥� City fan Richard Wilbourn said. “When I heard the news (he was leaving) I got a bit emotional. What he鈥檚 done for the club has been absolutely unreal, and it鈥檚 something that we鈥檝e never seen in our lifetime.

鈥淕rowing up through my mid-20s to mid-30s (he’s been) a massive part of my life.鈥�

City has honored Guardiola by naming its newly developed north stand after him. He will also take up a role as global ambassador.

鈥淚鈥檓 sad he鈥檚 leaving, but I think he鈥檚 leaving at the right time,鈥� said Taylor. 鈥淗e鈥檚 done everything and he can鈥檛 go any further in this club, but I think he鈥檚 done brilliant and I wish him all the best.鈥�

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