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Pep Guardiola won the Premier League and League Cup with Manchester City in 2018
Pep Guardiola won the Premier League and League Cup with Manchester City in 2018

Guardiola signs new Man City deal to 2021

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has signed a new deal which will keep him at the club until 2021.

The 47-year-old Spaniard led City to the Premier League title with a record 100 points last season.

The contract extension means his deal with City is the longest commitment the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has made to a club since starting his managerial career in 2008.

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"I am so happy and excited. It's a pleasure to work here," he said.

"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."

Guardiola's side won the League Cup in 2018, beating Arsenal 3-0 in the final, before claiming the league title by 19 points from rivals Manchester United.

City scored 106 goals and claimed 32 wins, both Premier League records, as they dropped only 14 points in the league all season.

They were beaten by Wigan Athletic in the fifth round of the FA Cup and were knocked out by Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

"I will focus on the desire of my players to become a better team and every day that's what I will try to do - to improve on the pitch and improve our players," added Guardiola.

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"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."

Pep - A man of his word?

  • 2008 - Appointed Barcelona manager
  • 2012 - Leaves Barcelona at end of 12-month rolling contract to go on season-long sabbatical.
  • 2013 - Signs three-year contract with Bayern Munich until 2016.
  • 2016 - Agrees three-year deal to join Manchester City.
  • 2018 - Signs extension, which takes him to 2021.

Can Guardiola build a dynasty?

City are aiming to build a dynasty to rival that of Manchester United, who won 13 of the first 21 Premier Leagues titles under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Guardiola - who became City manager on a three-year deal in the summer of 2016 - honoured his contracts at previous clubs Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

In his debut season at the Etihad, the team finished third in the Premier League, were knocked out of the FA Cup in the semi-finals and exited both the Champions League and EFL Cup at the last-16 stage.

Chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak described the season as "disappointing", but the club moved to a different level in the campaign that has just finished.

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"In his two seasons with us, he has fostered an incredible spirit within the squad and significantly contributed to our progress both on and off the field," said Al-Mubarak on Thursday.

"I am very much looking forward to the continued impact of his work and to fulfilling our shared ambitions in the coming seasons."

A cabinet full of silverware

Guardiola enjoyed a glittering playing career with Barcelona that saw him win six La Liga titles and the Copa del Rey twice.

He also won the European Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup

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As Barca boss Guardiola won 14 trophies in four seasons - La Liga (3), Copa del Rey (2), Spanish Super Cup (3), Champions League (2), Super Cup (2), Club World Cup (2)

Won a further seven trophies in three seasons at Bayern before leaving for Man City in 2016.

After a trophy-less first season in England, he won the EFL Cup and the Premier League in 2017-18.


Credit: BBC

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