Josep ‘Pep’ Guardiola, the Manchester City manager who has led the club to an unprecedented six Premier League titles during his tenure, has signed an extension with the club, The Athletic has reported.
The new deal includes a one-year extension, with his previous deal set to expire at the end of the 2024/25 season. This guarantees that Guardiola will stay in the City dugout until at least 2026. The deal also includes an optional one-year extension, which could see him through to 2027.
Guardiola joined Manchester City in 2016 and has since turned the club into a world powerhouse. In the 2018-19 season, they became the first English team to complete the domestic treble by winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup in one season. In the 2023/24 season, they won their fourth consecutive Premier League title, becoming the first-ever English team to do so. This was mostly propelled by Norwegian striker Erling Halaand, who joined the club in 2022. In his debut season, he broke the single-season scoring record with 36 goals, surpassing the 34-goal record set by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole. Midfielder Rodri has also been a huge coup for Guardiola, as the midfielder has pulled strings on the pitch since he arrived and was awarded the Balon d’Or in 2024.
The news will surely relieve Manchester City fans after rumors swirled during the offseason that Guardiola may seek to leave at the end of the season. It is also a good sign that Guardiola extended, especially as Manchester City’s trial over their 115 Premier League charges looms. A final verdict is set for early 2025, and penalties could range from fines to more severe punishments if found guilty.
With the managerial uncertainty gone, City can now focus on returning to winning after losing four straight games in all competitions.
