According to various media outlets, Pep Guardiola is in his final week at the helm of Manchester City. Italian Enzo Maresca is a favorite to replace him.
Aurélie Sacchelli, Media365: published on Monday, May 18, 2026 at 11:48 pm
Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are coming to an end. The iconic 55-year-old coach is in his final week with the Cityzens, according to various media outlets, such as The Athletic, BBC, and Daily Mail. Even though he still has a contract for next season, the Catalan will indeed pack his bags after the match against Aston Villa this Sunday. The BBC states that “preparations for his departure are underway, with staff members aware of his imminent exit. The club is considering the best way to mark the end of the career of their iconic coach.”
With victories in the FA Cup and the League Cup this season, Pep Guardiola still has a slim chance of being crowned Premier League champion with Manchester City. However, with a five-point gap behind Arsenal and two games left to play, it would take a miracle. He will leave the Cityzens with a tremendous list of achievements, including six league titles, three FA Cups, six League Cups, three Community Shields, one Champions League, one UEFA Super Cup, and one FIFA Club World Cup. His future is currently uncertain, whether it be a national team role, another club, or a sabbatical year. More will be revealed in the coming months.
After the Blues, could it be Maresca for the Cityzens? Enzo Maresca’s name is circulating as the main candidate to replace Guardiola. The 46-year-old Italian coach, who bears a physical resemblance to Guardiola, has not coached since leaving Chelsea on January 1st, just a few months after leading them to their first Club World Cup title. It seems likely that he will take over at City since he coached the U23 team in 2020-21 before becoming Guardiola’s assistant in 2022-23. Having been at Parma (2021) and Leicester (2023-24) before joining the London club in summer 2024, the former midfielder from Juventus, Sevilla, and Palermo is set to lead City post-Guardiola next season. It will be a significant challenge, but with the quality of the squad, he has the potential to achieve great things.
