MANCHESTER: Speculation over Pep Guardiola’s future at Manchester City has ended after the Abu Dhabi-owned Premier League club Thursday signed a new two-year contract extension with its celebrated manager.
“Manchester City are pleased to announce that Pep Guardiola has signed a new two-year deal with the club,” a statement on City’s website read.
The contract, which now runs to the summer of 2023, sees Guardiola’s commitment to City extended to seven years from his arrival in 2016, the longest the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager has stayed at any club.
Since joining Manchester City, Pep has had a transformational effect on the club’s playing style and has guided the team to eight major trophies, setting a series of significant records along the way. In total, the team has won 181 of the 245 matches under his in charge – a win rate of 73.87 percent – winning a piece of silverware every 31 games he has overseen.
Confirming the news, club chairman Khaldoon Mubarak said: “It is testament to the qualities of the man that Pep Guardiola’s passion and intelligent approach are now woven into the very fabric of the football we play and our culture as a club. That impact has been central to our success during his tenure and it is why I am delighted that he shares our view that there is so much more to be achieved both on and off the field.
“Pep’s contract extension is the natural next step in a journey which has evolved over many years. It is a product of the mutual trust and respect that exists between him and the entire Club. It also goes to the stability and creativity at the heart of our football operations. Importantly it is a validation of the football structure and philosophy that has been built over more than a decade and to which he has contributed so much.
“I’m sure all City fans share my delight in this new agreement and in anticipating the exciting opportunities that, with continued hard work, are there to be taken.”
Guardiola added: “Ever since I arrived at Manchester City I have been made to feel so welcome in the club and in the city itself – from the players, the staff, the supporters, the people of Manchester and the chairman and owner. Since then we have achieved a great deal together, scored goals, won games and trophies, and we are all very proud of that success.
“Having that kind of support is the best thing any manager can have. I have everything I could possibly want to do my job well and I am humbled by the confidence the owner, chairman, Ferran (Soriano, City CEO) and Txiki (Begiristain, club director) have shown in me to continue for two more years after this season.
“The challenge for us is to continue improving and evolving, and I am very excited and about helping Manchester City do that.”
Advancing past the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since he took charge of City in 2016 is also a major goal for Guardiola, who last won Europe’s elite club competition with Barcelona in 2011.
Guardiola may consider a move for Barcelona forward Lionel Messi in January after the Argentine, who is out of contract at the end of this term, asked to leave in frustration at the Spanish club’s troubles in the close-season.
Guardiola’s record
In 11 full seasons as a manager, Guardiola has collected an incredible 29 major trophies.
He spent four seasons in charge of Barcelona, where he won 14 major trophies, including the Club’s first ever treble in his first year in charge.
After a year’s sabbatical in New York, he took the reins at Bayern Munich in 2013, where he added a further seven trophies to his CV whilst revolutionising the Bavarians’ style of play.
And after a season of transition in his first year at City, the 2017-18 campaign was the best in the Club’s history as Guardiola’s side set a plethora of new English top-flight and Premier League records, including winning the title with 100 points – the most ever collected.
In 2018-19 the club became the first side to win a clean-sweep of domestic honours, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Community Shield. The Premier League title win, achieved with 98 points, meant City were the first team in a decade to win back-to-back Premier Leagues.
His full record as a manager:
Barcelona (2008-12)
La Liga (3), Copa del Rey (2), Spanish Super Cup (3), Champions League (2), Super Cup (2), Club World Cup (2)
Bayern Munich (2013-16)
Bundesliga (3), DFB-Pokal (2), UEFA Super Cup (1), FIFA Club World Cup (1)
Manchester City (2016-present)
Premier League (2), FA Cup (1), League Cup (3), Community Shield (2)
Milestones under Pep’s watch
Most points: 100
Most wins: 32
Most home wins: 18
Most away wins: 16
Most consecutive wins: 18
Most consecutive away wins: 11
Biggest title-winning margin: 19
Most goals: 107
Best goal difference: +79
The 2019-20 season saw Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus, and Riyad Mahrez all score at least 10 goals – the first in the history of the Premier League five players from the same team have hit double figures.
