The news

Pep Guardiola has informed Manchester City he intends to leave the club this summer, per Fabrizio Romano, with an official statement set to follow. Enzo Maresca is reported as the only name on City's shortlist to take over, signaling the club has moved quickly to line up a successor before the announcement lands publicly.

Prior context

Speculation around Guardiola's exit has built steadily since May 2024, when Romano first floated 2025 as a potential end point following four consecutive Premier League titles. Tony Cascarino dismissed mid-January 2026 chatter about an imminent departure as "complete rubbish," underscoring how persistently the storyline has churned in the months leading up to this reported decision.

Across his tenure, Guardiola rebuilt Manchester City into the dominant force in English football, delivering the silverware and tactical identity that now define the club's modern era. The reported choice of Maresca — a former Guardiola assistant — points to a clear preference for continuity over reinvention.

What it means

This is the most significant managerial transition in Manchester City's history, and the club is approaching it without a bidding war or expansive search. Locking in on a single candidate suggests the hierarchy values philosophical alignment above all else, betting that a familiar tactical lineage will protect the squad's structure through a delicate handover.

For the Premier League, Guardiola's departure removes the league's defining tactical figure of the past decade and reshapes the competitive landscape at the top of the table. Rivals will see a window; City will be racing to keep it shut.

What to watch next

The official statement from Manchester City is the immediate domino, followed by formal movement on Maresca's appointment and the contractual mechanics required to bring him in. Squad reaction, summer transfer posture, and any late shifts in the shortlist will define how cleanly this transition actually unfolds.