It is more than likely that at the end of the 24/25 season, Manchester City’s new era will commence. City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, is set to depart the club after the FIFA Club World Cup. He will be replaced by Hugo Viana. That move alone will see a new era commence at Manchester City.
There is also the possibility of a host of key players moving on from the club at the end of the season. Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Kyle Walker, to name a few, are getting on in years. The time is coming when they will call time on their City careers. But with Sam Lee reporting for the Athletic that Pep Guardiola has agreed on a contract extension with the club a familiar face will be at the heart of Manchester City’s new era. That is massive for the world champions as they begin to build for the future in the coming seasons.
Sam Lee’s report includes the fact that Pep Guardiola has agreed on a one-year contract extension with Manchester City. That deal also includes the option of a second year as per Lee’s report. For me, that shows that Pep Guardiola is up for the challenge of rebuilding his all-conquering team. Pep Guardiola and his team have scaled every mountain in football. They are arguably the most dominant side in English football history. 6 Premier League titles in 7 seasons and 4 consecutive Premier League titles is a testament to this fact. They have also claimed every other major trophy available during that time. As this group of Manchester City players reaches the end of their time at the club their legacy is secured. But what comes next is the challenge to continue City’s reign of dominance. Based on Sam Lee’s report Pep Guardiola is up for that challenge.
READ MORE: Pep Guardiola agrees on a contract extension with Manchester City which is huge for the club.
With Hugo Viana set to take over from Txiki Begiristain he will now work with Pep Guardiola to build City’s next all-conquering squad. That is no easy challenge based on what they will be tasked with following. But with Pep Guardiola’s future secured he will now be at the helm of the rebuild. That gives Manchester City the clarity needed to move forward. A familiar face will remain as manager and that is huge for the world champions.
What has become clear is the Pep Guardiola continuing as Manchester City manager has always been City’s plan. Fabrizio Romano has reported on X that Manchester City were always confident of Guardiola extending his tenure. Romano adds that City had no contact with Xabi Alonso or Ruben Amorim in regards to the managerial job. Manchester City’s confidence was rewarded as per Sam Lee’s report. That shows that Manchester City were always building for the future with Pep Guardiola at the forefront of their plans.
Manchester City’s new era can begin with Pep Guardiola at the heart of it all. To build another all-conquering team City needed certainty is such a key post. They now have that with Pep Guardiola set to manage the club for at least another season, and potentially another. That is the perfect building block for Manchester City’s new era. This international break had loomed as being vital for Manchester City. It has proved to be the case based off of Sam Lee’s report.