Our Catalan manager has today put pen to paper on a new two-year contract, a deal that will extend his stay at City through to the summer of 2025.
Guardiola has been in charge for six and a half years already in what has proved the longest reign of his storied managerial career, one that has seen City amass 11 major trophies including four Premier League titles.
By the time Pep’s new deal expires he will have been manager at the Etihad for nine years.
Talking about the decision to sign his latest contract extension, the City manager pointed to the supportive structure of the Club’s hierarchy as being fundamental factors in his and our success.
Guardiola also referenced the silverware enjoyed by City under his predecessors Manuel Pellegrini and Roberto Mancini.
And he says that further demonstrated how the off-field backing offered from owner HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and the Club’s entire leadership team meant we were perfectly poised to consistently challenge for trophies looking to the long term - even after he leaves.
“This is one of the secrets of the success of this club. I am pretty sure it happened before me with Manuel, with Roberto Mancini, and with my successor it will happen again,” Pep pointed out.
“I am sure it is going to happen again. The people have to change their mind that this happens [total support] because it is Pep. It is beyond that.
“I am 100% sure whatever happens with me in the future – I will stay two more years and I know, Khaldoon knows, it depends on the results (as) if results are not good you never know what will happen – but I know the next chapter of this club will be amazing for the next decade.
“It happened in the last ten years, and it will happen in the next ten years because the relations are so stable across the club.
“In most clubs, people support the manager because of results. Here they support unconditionally because they know everyone works hard and does their best as possible.”
Expanding on the factors behind his decision to further extend his stay, Guardiola said that unwavering backing meant ‘he couldn’t be in a better place.’
And despite all that has gone before and all the success he has overseen, Pep revealed how he had the feeling there was still more to come and things to achieve in his time at the Club.
“We discuss a lot what we can do better – we have to do better. I love my job and I have everything to do it. I cannot be in a better place now,” Pep pointed out.
“I cannot be in a better place because in these seven years we were in bad, bad moments and the organisation, starting with Khaldoon, the CEO Ferran Soriano, of course Txiki (Director of Football Txiki Begiristain) and Omar (Chief Football Operations officer Omar Berrada), the people close to me – how they support me in these bad moments, that is what really counts.
“You can win once in a period at a club. When you win a lot, it is impossible to do it without the support of your hierarchy.
“From day one I felt something special being here. I know the conversations I have with our chairman Khaldoon and the people every day. All you do is your best. I have done that since day one and I will do it until the end.
“Being happy, comfortable here, I have everything I need to do my job best as possible. I have the support.
“The moment I don’t feel that – for family reasons, or I have achieved everything I want to achieve, or I don’t feel comfortable with the team, or it’s not a pleasure to fight for another Premier League – when these feelings disappear, I will step aside.
“That is normal in life. I am not eternal. Every day we are here, we are closer to the end. That is normal.
“But still, I have this feeling there is something more to do.
“That is my feeling right now. And that is why we continue together.”
