Pep Guardiola is set to leave Manchester City after a trophy-filled decade that has established him as one of football’s greatest managers, having won 20 trophies and transformed the club into a dominant force in English football.
AFP Sport highlights key moments from his reign, which reshaped Manchester City’s identity and delivered sustained domestic and European success.
A defining breakthrough came in the 2017/18 season when City stormed to the Premier League title with a record 100 points, becoming the first English top-flight side to reach the milestone while scoring 106 goals and finishing with a record +79 goal difference.
The following season, Guardiola’s side retained the title on 98 points after a fierce race with Liverpool, before completing a historic domestic treble by also winning the FA Cup and League Cup — the first club in English football to achieve the feat.
European success, however, remained elusive until 2023, when City finally captured the UEFA Champions League under Guardiola. A commanding 4-0 semi-final win over Real Madrid set the tone before a 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in the final sealed a historic treble, matching Manchester United’s 1999 achievement.
City continued to make history by becoming the first English club to win four consecutive Premier League titles, edging out Arsenal in a tightly contested race as Mikel Arteta’s side pushed them to the limit.
Guardiola’s final seasons were less dominant, with injuries and fatigue affecting performances, including a difficult run in which City won just once in 13 matches during the 2024/25 campaign.
However, he still ended his tenure with silverware, lifting the League Cup after a 2-0 win over Arsenal and adding an FA Cup triumph to reach 20 trophies in 10 years.
Despite Arsenal narrowly denying City another league title in his final season, Guardiola reflected on his legacy with pride, saying his record of sustained success would ultimately define his time in England.
