Article by Maria Olteanu – Published Friday, May 22, 2026, 3:41 p.m. / Updated Friday, May 22, 2026, 3:41 p.m.
Manchester City have announced they will honor Pep Guardiola, 55, the manager who is leaving the club at the end of this season, by naming the north stand of the Etihad Stadium after him and erecting a statue in his honour.
The decision was communicated to the Catalan technician on Friday morning by the club's president, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, shortly after after the technician confirmed his departure from Manchester City.
Guardiola will leave the technical bench after a successful decade in Manchester, in which he became the most successful manager in the club's history. At the English club he won 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the first UEFA Champions League in Manchester City's history.
Pep Guardiola will have a statue at Manchester City
Sheikh Mansour, the club's owner, spoke of the impact Guardiola has had on the team: “I have said for a long time that Manchester City should have the best people, both on and off the pitch,” he said.
“For ten years, Pep was the embodiment of that ambition. He left an indelible mark on the club's DNA. A mark that comes more from how he won than from the many trophies he lifted.”he added, quoted by abola.pt.
Photo: X @ Fabrizio Romano
The tribute will coincide with Guardiola's final game in charge of Manchester City, which will take place in the last leg at home to Europa League winners Aston Villa on Sunday from 6pm. At that game, the recently expanded north stand, now bearing the coach's name, will be inaugurated, welcoming an additional 7,000 fans for the first time.
“The Pep Guardiola Stand and the statue that will be placed outside, rightly ensures that Pep's legacy will forever remain woven into the fabric of this football club, the city of Manchester and English football.” the president stated.
For his part, the executive director, Ferran Soriano, considered the occasion “totally appropriate”. “Sunday will be an opportunity for all to celebrate his achievements. Sheikh Mansour's permanent marking of Pep's incredible legacy will give City fans the opportunity to recognize Pep's legend every time they visit our stadium,” he concluded.
