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GUARDIOLA SIGNS NEW MAN CITY DEAL

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Pep Guardiola has signed a new two-year deal that will see him remain as Manchester City manager until the summer of 2023.

The 49-year-old has won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and three League Cups since joining in 2016.

Guardiola told City’s website: “We have achieved a great deal together, scored goals, won games and trophies, and we are all very proud of that success.

“Having that kind of support is the best thing any manager can have.”

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager’s previous deal was due to expire at the end of this season.

Guardiola’s current five-year stay is already the longest commitment he has made to a team since becoming a manager in 2008.

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If he sees out the contract, the Spaniard will overtake Joe Mercer and go second on the club’s list of longest-serving post-war managers, behind Scot Les McDowall who took charge of 592 games between 1950 and 1963.

In total, City have won 181 of the 245 matches under Guardiola, a win rate of 73.87%.

Chairman Khaldoon Mubarak said: “Pep’s contract extension is the natural next step in a journey

which has evolved over many years.

“It is a product of the mutual trust and respect that exists between him and the entire club. It also goes to the stability and creativity at the heart of our football operations.

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“Importantly it is a validation of the football structure and philosophy that has been built over more than a decade and to which he has contributed so much.”

Guardiola has previously indicated he was open to remaining with the Blues, although he would only do so if it was what the club wanted.

The current upheaval at Barcelona led to suggestions Guardiola might return to the club he won the Champions League with as a player and a manager.

However, he has rejected that notion and it is thought he spoke to City officials during the international break and told them of his desire to stay.

City will be delighted at the news. Guardiola has won two Premier League titles – and in 2019 completed an unprecedented clean sweep of domestic trophies.

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He remains determined to secure the club’s first Champions League title though – having not got further than the quarter-finals in his time at the club.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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