New contract until 2027: Pep is not finished yet: Guardiola at Man City until 2027

Star striker Erling Haaland was one of the first to express his joy about Pep Guardiola’s contract extension at Manchester City. “I’m super happy,” said Haaland on Sky Sports and enthused: “He’s the best coach in the world. He’s probably the best coach that has ever existed anywhere in the world.” You hear superlatives like this more often in the east of Manchester, where City is based.

Guardiola was already thinking about saying goodbye

The 53-year-old Guardiola now wants to stay with the Cityzens until mid-2027. There is great relief around the Etihad Stadium. Because the extension of his expiring contract took so long, many feared that the trophy collector’s era would come to an end next summer after nine years. In fact, Guardiola himself had already had his departure in mind.

“I’ll be honest, I thought this (season) would be the last,” the coach admitted in an interview on the club website. Why the U-turn? “I felt like I couldn’t walk, it’s as simple as that. Don’t ask me why.” However, he suggested that the most recent negative series – with four competitive defeats, the longest of his coaching career – could have played a role. “Maybe the four defeats were the reason for that.”

Unprecedented success with a shadow over it

Manchester City losing has been the exception under Guardiola. Since his arrival in the summer of 2016, he has transformed the sheikh-supported club into an absolute football power that has been the undisputed number one on the island and at times in Europe in recent years. Guardiola won the English championship six times with City, most recently four times in a row. This had never happened before in the Premier League.

The highlight was the 2022/23 season, in which Manchester City not only became champions, but also won the FA Cup and the long-awaited Champions League for the first time. The Spaniard brought the Cityzens a total of 18 titles. “Hopefully we can add more trophies. That’s my focus,” emphasized Guardiola, who club boss Khaldun al-Mubarak described as having an insatiable hunger for improvement and success.

However, the successes are overshadowed by the fact that the Premier League has been investigating Man City for a long time. The club is accused of financial violations in 115 cases. City rejects the allegations. The hearing before an independent commission began in September, closed to the public.

If found guilty, the series champion could face drastic penalties – a hefty point deduction or even forced relegation. Guardiola assured that he himself would stay in the event. “I will be here,” he made clear on Friday. “I don’t know where they would send us but we would be promoted and promoted until we were back in the Premier League.” However, the coach is convinced that City have done nothing wrong.

On the way to becoming a record-breaking coach

The fact that the star coach, who has long been considered a club legend, is extending his contract, especially in difficult times, is a stroke of luck for the city bosses. It will be an exciting season both legally and sportingly. While waiting for the commission’s decision, which is expected in early 2025, Haaland’s team must make up a five-point gap to leaders Liverpool in the Premier League. On December 1st there will be a direct and perhaps decisive duel in Anfield.

Regardless of the results, Pep Guardiola is on course for a record in Manchester. If he fulfills his new contract, which is expected, he will stay at the club for eleven years – longer than Jürgen Klopp was in Liverpool. Only Wilf Wild (1932-1946) and Les McDowall (1950-1963) are ahead of him in Man City’s club history. McDowall’s record of 587 games on the sidelines for City is set to be broken by Guardiola, who stands at 490.