Pep Guardiola has agreed a new one-year contract with Manchester City in a huge boost for the Premier League champions, with the new terms taking his term until the summer of 2026.
Following City’s 2-1 FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United in May, Guardiola took time this summer to reflect on his future, with the Guardian reporting that he was then open to making a decision this winter.
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The manager’s last two contract extensions were also agreed in November during a trip to Abu Dhabi, the home country of club owner Sheikh Mansour. Before City’s 2-1 defeat at Brighton on November 9, their final match before the international break, Guardiola was asked if he would consider returning during the international break.
He replied: “No. I’ve said it many times, I won’t talk about it [a new contract]. When it happens, it will happen. We contact each other regularly. »
City have lost their last four matches, the first time Guardiola has overseen such a run in his 15-year coaching career. They are second in the league with 23 points from their opening 11 matches, five points behind leaders Liverpool.
The club is also defending itself before an independent commission against more than 100 accusations of alleged financial wrongdoing brought against it by the Premier League. City deny all accusations and Guardiola’s decision indicates renewed energy and a desire to bring more success to the club he took over in the summer of 2016.
It also suggests that Guardiola was not influenced by City director of football Txiki Begiristain’s decision to leave this summer. Begiristain, Guardiola’s former Barcelona teammate and close friend, will be replaced at the end of the season by Hugo Viana, who plays the same role at Sporting.
Guardiola is already the most successful manager in City’s history. In eight years at the club, the 53-year-old has guided City to six Premier League titles, including the last four in a row, which is a record. He also won City’s first Champions League in 2023, as well as two FA Cups and four League Cups.
On Saturday, Guardiola aims to halt the four-match losing streak when Tottenham travel to the Etihad Stadium for the 5.30pm kick-off.
After the 4-1 defeat to Sporting in the Champions League, City’s third defeat in a row, Guardiola said: “It will be a difficult season – we knew that from the start. But that’s it. I like it, I like it, I want to face it, lift my players up and try it.