When Sir Alex Ferguson departed from Manchester United in 2013, he left with a Premier League winners’ medal around his neck. However, the drawback was that he had drained an aging team of its last resources, leading to a difficult transition for his successor, David Moyes, which United has never fully recuperated from.
On the other hand, Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool two years ago without the championship title, but he handed over a squad in solid condition, as highlighted by their title victory just a year after his departure.
When Arsène Wenger stepped down from Arsenal in 2018, he left with neither the Premier League trophy nor the players required to hunt for it. Major changes were necessary under Mikel Arteta to make them serious contenders again.
It’s evident that transitioning from a long-serving manager can be quite complex.
– Ogden: Arsenal remain Premier League title favorites, here’s why
– Marcotti: Premier League now belongs to City, Bayern clinch Bundesliga and more
– Man City 2-1 Arsenal: Haaland’s goal opens up the title race
Manchester City may be facing a similar situation as United, Liverpool, and Arsenal, with uncertainty surrounding Pep Guardiola’s future heading into August. Should he leave, it would be under somewhat unique circumstances in the Premier League era, as he could potentially depart as a champion while leaving behind a squad that, theoretically, is poised for improvement.
Although unconfirmed, there’s a rising sentiment around City that Guardiola will exit at the end of the season. The 55-year-old’s contract runs until June 2027, but there was surprise when he signed a two-year extension in November 2024 instead of just one.
It wouldn’t be surprising if he opts not to complete the final year of his contract.
There likely won’t be any formal announcement while City remain in the hunt for trophies, as Guardiola tends to minimize distractions.
By defeating Arsenal on Sunday, City has compressed the title race to a three-point gap with five matches remaining, plus a game in hand. They also have an upcoming FA Cup semifinal against Championship side Southampton on Saturday, keeping the possibility of a domestic treble alive after their Carabao Cup success against the Gunners in March.
Not even Ferguson achieved such a farewell.
Ferguson left United facing a challenging transition phase. His final title in 2012-13 was won with a team heavily dependent on an aging group comprised of Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and Robin van Persie, with only Carrick remaining beyond 2015.
1:36
Moreno: I’d prefer to be in Man City’s dressing room right now
Alejandro Moreno asserts that Manchester City’s victory over Arsenal places them in a stronger position to capture the Premier League.
Recently, Giggs commented on a podcast with Ferdinand that: “A sign of a good manager is the team he leaves behind.”
Moyes, Ferguson’s successor, made numerous mistakes but inherited a challenging situation due to the squad’s condition.
Guardiola has approached things differently. Over the past 18 months, he has seen several seasoned players depart, including Éderson, Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gündogan, and Kevin De Bruyne.
In their stead, Guardiola has integrated younger talents such as Marc Guéhi, Josko Gvardiol, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico O’Reilly, Antoine Semenyo, and Rayan Cherki.
This season, the average age of the City squad is 26.1, with the starting XI against Arsenal being even younger at 25.3 years old.
Regardless of whether Guardiola stays or departs, further investments in the squad are expected this summer, but any funds will primarily address specific needs—such as acquiring a midfielder to replace the outgoing Bernardo Silva and possibly a right-back—rather than enacting sweeping changes. The groundwork for City’s future team is already being laid.
Guardiola has expressed confidence that City will improve next season, fostering some hope among fans that he might choose to experience those benefits himself instead of passing them on to a successor—be it his former assistant Enzo Maresca (currently unattached after leaving Chelsea) or another candidate.
1:36
Guardiola praises ‘legend’ Bernardo Silva following City’s victory over Arsenal
Pep Guardiola extols the virtues of Bernardo Silva after his standout performance in Manchester City’s triumph against Arsenal.
He has postponed departure plans in the past, notably when signing a second extension in November 2022, and one more opportunity to chase the UEFA Champions League might prove enticing.
City has always maintained a relaxed stance regarding Guardiola’s future, confident that their relationship is strong enough for him to consider what is best for the club as well as his personal desires. This is why they had no internal concerns about his potential exit last summer—despite a less-than-stellar season—because he understood how challenging a transition would be during a summer that included the FIFA Club World Cup.
Whenever Guardiola chooses to depart, it will be a significant loss for City.
Since his arrival in 2016, the club has been shaped by his vision, culminating in an impressive array of silverware. He could still depart as a champion while also leaving behind a team equipped to secure future successes.
This accomplishment is something that even Premier League legends like Ferguson, Klopp, and Wenger could not achieve.