Pep Guardiola commits future to Man City despite season struggles

• Pep Guardiola has extended his Manchester City contract by a year, with an option to stay until 2027, amid rumours of an exit
• Guardiola’s decision secures his potential decade-long tenure at City, as the club navigates their worst losing streak under his leadership
• Manchester City faces a rare slump, losing four consecutive games and sitting five points behind league leaders Liverpool.

Spanish coach Pep Guardiola has agreed a new one-year deal at Manchester City, ending speculation over his future. 

The former Barcelona coach will also have an option to extend that contract by a further season to 2027. Should he serve those two years, that would see Guardiola stay at the Etihad Stadium for a decade.

Earlier, the Spaniard's current contract at the Etihad was set to expire at the end of this season, and there had been suggestions he could leave following the conclusion of the campaign. 

Guardiola had been linked with the England job before Thomas Tuchel was named as Gareth Southgate's permanent successor.

But he will now stay as City boss until the end of next season at least having agreed on fresh terms with the club. An official announcement is expected in the coming days, according to reports.

Speaking about his future in the summer, the Spanish coach said,

“I want to be sure it’s the right decision, not just for me but for club, the right decision for the players. If they run like they already ran for eight years, no matter the competition, the tournament, and this is what I have to see and that’s all. When I said I would love to stay (it’s) because I would love to stay. So that’s why, I want to deny my feelings, I want to see my players.”

Barcelona icon Guardiola joined City in 2016 after three seasons as manager of Bayern Munich. He has overseen the most successful period in the club's history, fuelled by funding from Abu Dhabi magnate Sheikh Mansour.

Guardiola has led City to six Premier League titles, including the last four in a row, as well as two FA Cups, four League Cups and the Champions League in 2022-23. Next season will be his 10th in the Etihad dugout.

Despite his unrivalled success, City are currently on their worst losing streak of Guardiola's entire tenure. 

They have suffered defeat in each of their last four matches in all competitions and sit five points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool having taken 23 points from their opening 11 games.

After defeat to Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League recently, Guardiola said, 

“More than ever, I want to lift up the team and return them to their top level.” He also laughed off links to the Brazil job.

City have struggled in the absence of Ballon d'Or winning midfielder Rodri, who suffered a season-ending injury in their draw against Arsenal earlier in the campaign. Rodri has an enviable record of success since arriving at the Etihad and helped Spain to victory over England in the Euro 2024 final last year.

Guardiola's side face Tottenham in their first Premier League fixture after the international break on Saturday, November 23.

Man City faces uncertain future as Guardiola holds his cards to his chest

Previously, TheRadar reported that Manchester City’s future hangs in the balance as Pep Guardiola talks about the upcoming departure of Txiki Begiristain, the club’s long-serving director of football. 

While Begiristain’s influence will be missed, Guardiola also faces questions about his own future. With his contract expiring at the end of the current 2024/2025 season, the Spanish manager has hinted at being “closer to leaving than staying” after securing City’s historic fourth consecutive Premier League title in May.