Manchester City to Honour Pep Guardiola with Statue, Stand Renaming

Manchester City have announced plans to honour legendary manager Pep Guardiola with a statue outside the Etihad Stadium following confirmation of his departure after 10 years in charge.

The club revealed on Friday that the newly expanded North Stand at the Etihad Stadium will be renamed the “Pep Guardiola Stand,” while a statue of the 55-year-old Spaniard will also be erected nearby in recognition of his extraordinary achievements.

City owner Sheikh Mansour praised Guardiola for transforming the club both on and off the pitch.

“Pep has been the personification of our ambition for the past decade,” Sheikh Mansour said. “He has left an indelible mark on the DNA of this club, not only because of the trophies he won but also because of the manner in which his teams played.”

Guardiola is set to take charge of his final match as Manchester City manager on Sunday when the club faces Aston Villa in the last Premier League game of the season at the Etihad Stadium.

Since arriving at City in 2016, Guardiola has enjoyed one of the most successful managerial spells in football history. During his tenure, he guided the club to six Premier League titles, including a historic run of four consecutive league triumphs.

He also led City to their first-ever UEFA Champions League title in 2023, completing a famous treble-winning campaign that included the Premier League and FA Cup.