Pep Guardiola apologised to his Manchester City players after news of his impending departure leaked, with the manager said to be furious that such a seismic development emerged on the eve of one of the most important matches of the season.
Guardiola held a late-night call with his stunned squad and informed them that he intends to step down after Sunday's final Premier League match against Aston Villa, bringing an extraordinary decade at the Etihad Stadium to a close.
The Spaniard still has 12 months remaining on his contract and had recently insisted he expected to stay.
As recently as Saturday, players were reportedly told he was not planning to leave.
That is why the dramatic reversal has left the dressing room in a state of shock.
A source told The Sun that Guardiola was "furious at the timing" of the leak and wanted to address his squad personally after the story broke.
The report claims he apologised for the way the news emerged and made clear that the disclosure had taken him by surprise.
Pep Guardiola apologised to his Manchester City players after news of his impending departure leaked, with the manager said to be furious that such a seismic development emerged on the eve of one of the most important matches of the season
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City remain firmly in the title race and know defeat to Bournemouth on Tuesday would hand the title to Arsenal heading into the final weekend of the campaign.
Former assistant and current Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is understood to be the frontrunner to succeed Guardiola if his exit is confirmed.
Guardiola arrived from Bayern Munich in 2016 and has overseen the most successful spell in Manchester City's history.
Man City players were rocked by the news that Pep Guardiola is leaving at the end of the season
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Five things to know about Man City boss Pep Guardiola | GETTY/GB NEWSUnder his guidance, City have won 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2023.
They have also completed a domestic cup double this season by lifting both the FA Cup and EFL Cup, taking Guardiola's total haul to 20 major honours if those trophies are included alongside Community Shields.
Supporters are already pushing for the club to honour him in permanent fashion.
Talks are underway over naming City's newly expanded North Stand after Guardiola, with the redevelopment due to open on Sunday.
When asked about the possibility, the City boss insisted that memories matter more than monuments.
Enzo Maresca will replace Pep Guardiola as Man City manager this summer
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"They don't have to do anything, honestly," he said.
"The important thing in our lives is when you look back and say 'wow' and you can do it with a big smile."
Sunday's home clash with Aston Villa is already set to be an emotional occasion, with Bernardo Silva and John Stones also expected to bid farewell.
It will now mark Guardiola's final bow as well, ending one of the most transformative managerial reigns English football has ever seen.