PEP GUARDIOLA has signed a two-year contract extension to remain manager of Manchester City.
The 53-year-old’s existing deal was due to expire at the end of the season with the club in the midst of a legal battle with the Prem.
It was previously reported that Guardiola would sign a new rolling one-year extension.
But that is no longer the case, with the legendary Spaniard extending his stay until at least 2027.
The club first teased the announcement with a short, zoomed in clip into the former Barcelona manager’s eye.
Guardiola said: “Manchester City means so much to me. This is my ninth season here.
“We have experienced so many amazing times together. I have a really special feeling for this football club.
“That is why I am so happy to be staying for another two more seasons.
“Hopefully now we can add more trophies to the ones we have
already won. That will be my focus.”
It will take his time at the Etihad up to 11 years.
Guardiola joined City back in 2016 following the departure of Manuel Pellegrini.
By Neil Custis
ERLING HAALAND hailed Pep Guardiola as the greatest manager of all time.
Manchester City boss Pep has signed a new two-year deal to stay at the Etihad and now the Prem champions want to convince their star striker to follow suit.
And Haaland — who has scored 105 goals in 114 appearances for City — saluted the Spaniard.
The 24-year-old Norwegian said: “He is the best manager in the world.
“I think we all know he’s probably the best that ever existed on the earth.”
After arriving from Borussia Dortmund for £51million in July 2022, Haaland was a key part as City landed the Treble of Champions League, Prem and FA Cup in his first season.
And last term he helped Guardiola’s men seal a fourth Prem title in a row.
The prolific marksman puts all City’s success down to the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich chief.
Haaland added: “I expected loads of things from him and he has been delivering up to this every single second, so I’m super happy and you can see that when I play.”
Guardiola moved to City from Bayern in the summer of 2016 and has won six league titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, the Champions League and the Club World Club.
He won three titles each at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, plus two Champions Leagues with Barca.
City feared he may leave at the end of this season but instead the 53-year-old has signed a new contract to stay on.
Etihad chiefs hope Pep’s commitment will boost their chances of Haaland agreeing a £100m package — as revealed by SunSport this week.
Barcelona have been linked with a swoop for the hitman. But Haaland — due to be back in Prem action at home to Spurs tomorrow — has 2½ years left on his £375,000-a-week-plus-bonuses deal.
Meanwhile, Guardiola believes he will know when the time is right for him to walk away.
He said: “I enjoy being here, I like my job.
“I said many times, the moment I don’t have that feeling — even with a contract — I will call my chairman, my CEO and say the best thing for the club is for me to leave.
“I don’t have that feeling right now, so I’ve extended.”
This is the fourth contract extension he has signed with City.
Pep admitted: “Every time I signed the contract I’d say it’s the last two years — and still we are here. So honestly, myself and my staff, we deserve to be here. We deserve the chance after four defeats in a row to bounce back.”
City have struggled since the serious knee injury to midfield linchpin Rodri in September and face an uphill task to retain their title.
Pep added: “This season we have won one [Community Shield] and maybe we are not going to win the other ones but this is not the problem.
“The problem is what’s next, what decisions do we have to take to still be in there. Still be a good team.”
He has won 18 trophies during his time in English football, including six Premier League titles — second in the all-time list behind former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (13).
But there had been speculation regarding his future in recent weeks amid the club’s legal battle with Prem bosses.
The hearing into City’s alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play has entered it’s 10th week.
City are currently facing 115 charges relating to their financial dealings between 2009 and 2018.
If found guilty, the Prem giants could face a significant punishment.
They may even be expelled from the top division.
But it is understood that Guardiola’s contract will NOT have a break clause.
This means his new deal will not be affected by the outcome of the club’s hearing into the charges and if City were relegated.
However, SunSport understands that it is unlikely that that the Cityzens would be dumped from all competitions despite the rules allowing for it to happen.
With Guardiola agreeing to stay, he will be forced to lead City through the storm of whatever penalty – if any – they receive.
In 2022-23, he helped City become only the second English side after Ferguson’s 1998-99 team to win the Treble — comprising the Prem, FA Cup and Champions League.
Last term his side made history by becoming the first team to win four successive top-flight titles.
The structure of Guardiola’s deal is the same as the contract he signed in November 2020 and November 2022.
The decision to extend also alleviates any potential problems of a managerial handover during a hectic summer that will see City compete at the Club World Cup in America.
City – second in the table, winless in four, and four points behind leaders Liverpool – return to action at home to Tottenham on Saturday.
Guardiola added: “I felt I could not leave now – simple as that. Maybe the four defeats was the reason why. I felt the club still wanted me.
“Firstly because we won a lot, I feel love. But it’s a business and you have to win. I have a contract but I know if we don’t win I won’t continue.
“The moment it’s done, the club will know it. And at this moment we didn’t feel it.
“Every time I signed the contract I say it’s the last two – and still we are here.
“So honestly myself and my staff, we deserve to be here. I’m not arrogant to say it, it’s the truth. We deserve the chance – after four defeats in a row – to bounce back and try to turn the situation.”
This is the first time Guardiola has endured such a streak of losses – excluding penalty shootouts – in his managerial career.
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