Guardiola resigns with Man City for three more years
LONDON: Pep Guardiola has committed to Manchester City for the next three years, the English Premier League champion announced yesterday.
The City manager has signed a twoyear extension to his existing contract, which had one year left to run, taking him to 2021.
City had been keen to secure the services of the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss after an outstanding season in which he won the title with a record 100 points as well as the League Cup.
‘‘I am so happy and excited. It’s a pleasure to be able to work here,’’ Guardiola told City’s website.
‘‘I enjoy working with our players every day and we will try to do our best together in the coming years.
‘‘As a manager, you have to feel good to be with the players — and I feel good.
‘‘We have a young squad with an average age of 23 and we want to keep taking steps forward and maintain the levels we’ve achieved this season.’’
Guardiola’s new deal comes after City scored a record 106 Premier League goals and won the competition by its biggest margin, a 19point advantage over secondplaced Manchester United.
By the time Guardiola’s contract comes to an end he will have spent five years in charge at the Etihad Stadium, longer than his tenures at the Nou Camp and Allianz Arena.
Throughout the second half of the campaign Guardiola (47) had said he did not intend to discuss his future until the summer. Guardiola had long been a target of City before it eventually appointed him before the 201617 season. The Spaniard arrived boasting a glittering managerial CV, including two Champions League titles, three La Liga successes and three Bundesliga triumphs.
This season’s Premier League and League Cup wins have taken the number of trophies he has won as a manager to 23.