Guardiola Names Ferguson Premier League’s Greatest Manager, Reveals Why He’s Exiting City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hailed Sir Alex Ferguson as the greatest manager English football has seen, while also opening up on the exhaustion behind his decision to leave the Premier League champions.

Guardiola spoke ahead of City’s final league game of the season against Aston Villa on Sunday, May 24, with attention still fixed on his recent announcement that he will step down after a decade at the Etihad.

The Spaniard paid tribute to Ferguson, whose glittering spell at Manchester United defined an era in English football before Guardiola arrived in Manchester in 2016.

“He [Ferguson] is the greatest in this country,” Guardiola said.

“The tenure, the time, and for many, many reasons… I’m happy that Sir Alex Ferguson, the greatest, could see.

“I’m pretty sure [to] Sir Alex, we are not the ‘noisy neighbours’, we are the ‘neighbours’. Just ‘the neighbours’. And I’m happy that he has been watching.”

Ferguson retired three years before Guardiola left Bayern Munich to take charge at City, but the pair have shared mutual respect throughout Guardiola’s time in England.

The 55-year-old also admitted the demands of elite football management have drained him physically and mentally, comparing his situation to that of former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who stepped away in 2024.

“I share the same feeling as when Jurgen Klopp left. I am running out of energy,” Guardiola said.

“I feel like I will not have the energy that is required for a game every three days, to fight for titles, being in front of the players every day.

“It’s been 10 years.

“This job is every three days for many, many years. Selhurst Park, Anfield, Madrid, and Madrid… now I have to live my life.

“Ten years is a lot of time. I think the club needs a new manager, new energy. With these incredible players we have right now. Start to write another chapter.”