England: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him at the Premier League champions until 2027. The extension will see the Spanish manager spend more than a decade at the club, having joined in 2016 and transformed City into a football powerhouse, securing six league titles and one Champions League trophy.
Guardiola’s decision to expand his tenure will be a relief to City fans, who had concerns that his time at the club might be approaching an end with his previous contract set to expire at the end of this season. In a statement, the 53-year-old voiced his deep connection to the club, stating that, “Manchester City means so much to me. I have a really special sense for this football club. That is why I am so happy to be staying for another two more seasons.”
Since his arrival, Guardiola has pivoted City into one of Europe’s most successful teams, winning 18 major trophies under his stewardship. However, this season has seen a rare dip in form, with City on a four-match losing streak, their worst run since Guardiola took charge. Despite this, the manager remains optimistic, commenting that, “I felt I could not leave now, simple as that. We deserve a chance to reflect back and turn the situation around.”
Guardiola added that his dedication to the club would remain as long as he continued to feel passion for the job. Guardiola stated that, “The moment I will not have that feeling, even under contract, I will ring my chairman and CEO and say the best for the club right now is I have to leave.”
City chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak welcomed the extension, praising Guardiola’s commitment and innovative approach to the game. Al-Mubarak stated that, “His hunger for improvement and success remains insatiable. The direct beneficiaries of that will continue to be our players and coaching staff, the culture of our Club, and the English game at large.”
The news of Guardiola’s comprehensive tenure is a boost for Manchester City, especially as the club faces ongoing research into alleged financial rule breaches. The city strongly denies the charges. Despite trailing Liverpool by five points in the Premier League, Guardiola remains focused on performing more success with the club. “I have everything a manager could ever wish for, and I appreciate that so much. Hopefully, now we can add more trophies to the ones we have already won. That will be my focus.”
MOST READ | Nadal ‘King of Clay’ bids emotional farewell from Professional Tennis
