Pep Guardiola bid farewell to Manchester City after ten years in charge, and the club gave him an unforgettable evening at the Etihad. Although he failed to win the title in his final season, the Catalan coach leaves as a legend and the best manager in the club’s history.
The emotional evening was full of surprises, and one of Guardiola’s favorite bands, Mishima, also played on stage.
A particularly touching moment was the parade of past and present players who, one by one, brought out the trophies won during his era.
Among them were Fernandinho, Ederson, Ilkay Gündogan, but also current Bayern coach Vincent Kompany. Current team members such as Erling Haaland, Bernardo Silva and Nica Gonzalez also posed with the trophies.
One moment in particular surprised Guardiola. The presenters broadcast a video message from Michael Jordan, considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time.
“Pep, I want to congratulate you on an incredible career. Enjoy your retirement and good luck with your golf,” Jordan said. The Catalan coach couldn’t hide his smile. “I had no idea Jordan knew about me,” he said, surprised.
A legacy that will be difficult to replicate
Guardiola has won 20 trophies with Manchester City, including the 2023 Champions League and six Premier League titles. Under his leadership, City became one of the most dominant clubs of the modern era and the style of play he imposed changed the standard in the Premier League.
According to the island’s media, even after leaving the bench, Guardiola will remain associated with City Football Group as an expert consultant and advisor on technical matters.
