Pep Guardiola has closed a defining era at Manchester City by confirming that the next head coach will receive a personal phone call, as Guardiola leaves after a decade in charge and a final 2-1 loss to Aston Villa, yet remains ready to share advice once the club announces a successor.

The manager revealed that the club will decide on the appointment without direct input from Guardiola, although that separation from the selection process will not prevent Guardiola from staying available as a guide for whoever enters one of the most demanding dugouts in European football.

Guardiola explained that he plans to contact the incoming manager as soon as Manchester City confirm the choice, outlining a supportive message aimed at easing the transition into a role shaped by 10 years of success and intense expectation at the Etihad Stadium. “When the club tell me who it is, of course, I will call him,” said Guardiola.

Guardiola detailed the message that will be passed on, stressing independence and trust within the club structure, and highlighting how Manchester City back their coaches during difficult periods. “I will tell him, ‘Be yourself and the club will support you unconditionally’. That is the biggest compliment, or the biggest luck that all the managers who have been here have had. You will be protected in the bad moments more than any other club. Be yourself, be free, go with your ideas. Work a lot, and everything will be fine.”

The announcement of Guardiola’s departure arrived last Friday, alongside confirmation that Manchester City would rename the redeveloped North Stand at the Etihad Stadium in Guardiola’s honour, reflecting a haul of 20 trophies across 10 seasons, including six Premier League titles, plus both the EFL Cup and the FA Cup in the current campaign.

The final match of Guardiola’s reign came on Sunday and ended in defeat, as Aston Villa beat Manchester City 2-1 with an Ollie Watkins double, drawing a line under a period that regularly placed City in domestic title races and major cup finals while reshaping expectations around style and control in English football.

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Pep Guardiola Manchester City successor and Enzo Maresca links

Attention now shifts towards identifying the replacement, with former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who previously served on Guardiola’s staff at Manchester City as an assistant, widely reported as the leading candidate to take over on the touchline, though the club have not yet made any official confirmation regarding the next appointment.

Guardiola’s stance means the board and executives will handle the search and negotiations while Guardiola steps away from club responsibilities, yet his willingness to offer informal guidance suggests a line of continuity between eras, as the next manager inherits a squad and structure built to compete for major honours each season.

Pep Guardiola Manchester City successor and future plans

Guardiola has stated that the immediate plan after leaving Manchester City is a long break from football and time to rest, although past comments show interest in international management, and links have already emerged with the vacant Italy position that opened after Gennaro Gattuso departed following Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup.

As Manchester City prepare for a new manager and rename the Etihad’s North Stand in Guardiola’s name, the club’s recent decade of titles, including six Premier Leagues and domestic cups this season, forms the backdrop to a major change, with Guardiola stepping aside yet remaining ready to call and encourage the successor when appointed.