Pep Guardiola to leave Manchester City; Enzo Maresca expected to take over

Pep Guardiola is reportedly set to leave his post as Manchester City manager this summer, ending a decade-long tenure.

Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is expected to succeed the Catalan tactician, according to The Athletic.

Guardiola’s impending departure comes on the heels of Manchester City’s recent FA Cup win over Chelsea – marking the 55-year-old’s 20th major trophy since arriving at the Etihad in 2016.

Although his current contract runs until June 2027, The Athletic reports that Guardiola is preparing to step down after City’s final two games of the season against Bournemouth and Aston Villa.

The transition process

The conversion process appears to be well under way.

The Athletic reported earlier in December that Maresca was on City’s radar and later revealed that the Italian explicitly informed Chelsea’s hierarchy that he was in discussions about the position ahead of his Stamford Bridge exit in January.

Enzo Maresca takes over at Manchester City. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Maresca, 46, is a familiar face at the Etihad, having previously coached City’s Under-21s and acted as first-team assistant under Guardiola in the 2022-23 season.

Maresca recently enjoyed a highly successful spell at Chelsea, securing Champions League qualification along with the clubs World Cup and Conference League titles, before parting ways with the London club.

Time of exit

Guardiola’s exit arrives at a critical time for Manchester City.

City are still awaiting the verdict and potential penalties relating to more than 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules, charges which the club strongly denies.

Furthermore, former director of football Txiki Begiristain left Man City last season, ushering in a whole new era of leadership.

Guardiola could still finish on a high note; City currently trail Premier League leaders Arsenal by two points with two games remaining.