[Archive 2016-02-01] Guardiola to replace Pellegrini as Manchester City manager

Historical archive — originally published 2016-02-01. This report records what was known on that date. It is not current news; subsequent events may have changed the situation. Wikinews closed in May 2026.

Manchester-based football club Manchester City today announced their current manager Manuel Pellegrini will remain only to this season's end. Former FC Barcelona and current Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola is to replace the Chilean next season.

Pellegrini joined City in 2013 and under him they have won the Premier League and the League Cup. Guardiola, winner of two Bundesliga titles and one German Cup with the German giants Munich, and a two-time Champions League winner with Barcelona, has signed a three-year contract with Manchester City. Guardiola also won four La Liga titles with Barcelona, winning fourteen trophies with them in total in four years and making him their most successful manager. He has suffered just nineteen managerial defeats in 239 league matches.

Pellegrini has managed 64 victories out of 99 games in the Premier League — only José Mourinho has a better record from his first 99 Premier League matches. Manchester City are currently second in the league table and in the fifth round of the FA Cup. Pellegrini was, the announcement noted, in full support of announcing the change.

On December 20, Bayern Munich announced Guardiola would be replaced by former Real Madrid and Chelsea F.C. manager Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian has won three Champions League titles in his coaching career.

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