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Pep Guardiola, one of the greatest coaches in the history of English football, will stand down as Manchester City manager after Sunday’s final Premier League game of the season against Aston Villa.
Guardiola will bring down the curtain on ten magical years at The Etihad in which he has won 20 trophies and established City as one of the world’s leading clubs.
The 55-year-old has led City to six league titles, including an unprecedented four in succession, and took the club to its first Champions League triumph.
It is thought that City have begun to tell their sponsor partners that the announcement is imminent. The news has also been an open secret among some of those close to Guardiola.
It is expected that the news will be confirmed some time on Sunday, in time for Guardiola’s stunning impact on English football to be celebrated at an open-top bus parade on Monday.
It is said the parade build-up will start at Manchester’s Northern Quarter at 4pm before finishing outside the Colin Bell Stand reception at the Etihad Stadium an hour later.
Pep Guardiola is leaving Manchester City and the Premier League at the end of the season
The City boss celebrated his final honour at the Etihad on Saturday, winning the FA Cup
Guardiola’s departure this summer has been a subject of rumour for some months when it became apparent the Catalan was considering bringing his reign at City to an end.
He has one year left on his contract, which he has continued to reference, and it is possible that he will stay on at the club in some capacity.
The leading candidates to replace him are Enzo Maresca, the former Chelsea manager, and Vincent Kompany, the Bayern Munich boss.
City beat Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley to win the FA Cup on Saturday and are still vying with Arsenal for the Premier League title.
They face Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday evening before the final game at The Etihad on Sunday.
