Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has signed a new two-year deal until 2027, saying the champions’ poor form prevented him from leaving in the summer.
The 53-year-old’s decision to contract for two more seasons after the current campaign is a big lift for the club, especially following four straight losses, his worst run under management.
Guardiola said in an announcement video, “Since the beginning of the season I’ve been thinking a lot.” I honestly thought this season should be the last. But our issues in the last month made me think we shouldn’t go.
I didn’t want to disappoint the club. I felt unable to go now. Don’t ask me why. Maybe the four losses made me feel I couldn’t leave.”
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Guardiola will finish his new contract after 11 years at City. He is already the longest-serving Premier League manager and second-longest among all four divisions.
He said, “Honestly, I think myself, my staff and friends deserve to be here. I regret it. Truthful, but not pompous. After four losses, we deserve to bounce back and flip the situation around. In that time, I felt like I had to make the proper future decisions and wanted to.
Manchester City is important to me. We have had so many great occasions in my tenth season here. This football club is special to me. That is why I am thrilled to stay for two more seasons.”
Guardiola congratulated City’s owner, Sheikh Mansour, chairman, Khaldoon al-Mubarak, CEO, Ferran Soriano, and leaving sporting director, Txiki Begiristain, a personal friend.
He thanked the owner, chairman Khaldoon, Ferran, Txiki, players, and fans of Manchester City for their continued trust and support. Always an honor, joy, and privilege to be here. I’ve said it many times, but I have everything a manager could want, and I appreciate it. We should now be able to win more trophies. That will be my focus.”
Al-Mubarak said, “Like every City fan, I am delighted that Pep’s journey with Manchester City will continue; allowing his dedication, passion, and innovative thinking to shape the game.
Our players, coaching staff, club culture, and the English game will benefit from his unquenchable drive for progress and success. This agreement will allow Pep to continue rewriting managerial records after a decade at Manchester City.
Should an independent panel find the club guilty of financial misconduct and relegate it from the Premier League, Guardiola’s contract has no break clause. The club is defending over 100 Premier League charges. City denies all claims. The champions might be demoted from the top flight if found guilty, depending on the result.
Guardiola joined City in the summer of 2016 and after a trophyless first season, he has won all seven since.
City won the 2017-18 title with a record 100 points under Guardiola. He achieved an unprecedented domestic treble the following season, winning the title, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup.
City won again in 2020-21 under Guardiola and reached their first Champions League final, losing 1-0 to Chelsea. English football’s second treble was completed two years later when Inter was defeated 1-0 to win the European Cup. Guardiola has led City to four League Cup wins and a record fourth title.
“The treble was a dream come true and the Champions League, especially for this club,” Guardiola said. “And of course we make the four in a row, which no team has done before.
It was incredible. But you have a past, lessons and mistakes we overcame to become more stable and consistent. In order to achieve our goal, we must retrieve that which we currently lack.
His greatest City achievements include six Premier League titles, one Champions League, four Carabao Cups, two FA Cups, the Uefa Super Cup, and the Fifa Club World Cup.
Guardiola has led City to 1,200 goals at 2.45 per game in 353 of 490 matches across all competitions, a 72% win percentage. Guardiola is second only to Les McDowall, who coached 587 City games between 1950 and 1963.
