Pep Guardiola has paid a warm tribute to football director Txiki Begiristain, saying he will be greatly missed when he leaves City.
Begiristain will step down from his role at the end of the 2024/25 season, leaving the club after 12 magnificent years following our participation in the FIFA Club World Cup at the end of this season.
The coach says the “trust” between them was invaluable during an epic period that saw the pair win 18 trophies and create unforgettable memories for the team, players and fans.
“Part of me is leaving, I would say,” Pep said as he addressed the press ahead of Sunday’s game with Wolves.
“My friend and the architect for creating one of Barcelona‘s best ever teams then and now here.”
“I knew about the decision for a long time for family and personal reasons. I know how grateful he is for his experience here.”
“Personally, he will be missed. He will be greatly missed. For his confidence and especially in bad moments, because he made me incredibly balanced in my work, because I’m very energetic and when things go wrong, I want to destroy everything and all the time he said ‘until tomorrow, take a day off’. He helped me a lot during my time in Barcelona and, of course, here.”
“But I am of the opinion that the club is very solid, incredibly well structured and will have to move forward.”
Begiristain arrived at City in 2012, four years before his former Barcelona teammate, Guardiolaand together they have collected 18 glasses so far.
The coach admits that the pair did not expect to stay in Manchester for so long, but their success inspired them to continue in this endeavor together.
“We didn’t expect it, but it happened because we won a lot,” added the coach.
“My president loves me, but he would have fired me if the results weren’t good. It’s been a long time because we won a lot.”
“There are no secrets. If you don’t win, everyone will ask you to be fired. If you win and are successful, everyone will support you. It’s not more complicated than that.”
Guardiola has been the driving force on the field for an unprecedented era of trophy after trophy, the best in our rich history.
But the coach’s first season, in 2016/17, was not easy. Without titles on that occasion, Pep made a point of praising Begiristain for the support he received during this transition phase.
“Of course, I was very grateful, but I wasn’t surprised,” he added. “One of the reasons I came here was because of the future potential, but also because friends like Ferran and Txiki were here.”
“At that time, I didn’t know my president, I didn’t know my owner, I didn’t know the team, I didn’t know the players. I knew almost no one. But I knew them.”
“I had the support of the hierarchy and it was not a surprise. I’m very grateful because it could be different.”
“But I worked with them, especially with Txiki in Barcelona, and I knew it would happen. We always tried to find a solution and not blame what was happening.”
