The end of an era at the Etihad. Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City at the end of this season, closing one of the most successful cycles in the modern history of English football.
Although the Citizens are still in a strong race with Arsenal for the Premier League title, the Spanish coach's decision now seems irreversible. Sunday's match against Aston Villa is expected to be an emotional afternoon for City fans, who will bid farewell to the coach who changed the club's history.
Guardiola leaves after 10 extraordinary seasons in charge, where he turned Manchester City into a European football superpower. He left behind six Premier League titles, five League Cups, three FA Cups, three Community Shields and, above all, the first Champions League in City's history. The balance is also completed with the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
Meanwhile, the club's leaders have also decided on a successor. The Manchester City bench will be taken by Enzo Maresca, a name known to the "citizen" environment, having been Guardiola's assistant coach in the historic "Triplet" season. The former Italian midfielder returns to Manchester after his experience with Chelsea, with whom he won the Club World Cup last summer. For Maresca, a three-year contract and the biggest challenge of his career are almost here.
