Pep Guardiola has finalized a new one-year contract with Manchester City, providing a significant boost for the Premier League champions. The updated terms extend his tenure with the club until the summer of 2026.

Following City’s 2-1 FA Cup final loss to Manchester United in May, Guardiola took the summer to contemplate his future. The Guardian previously reported that he was inclined to make a decision by this winter. The manager’s past two contract renewals were also secured in November during trips to Abu Dhabi, the home of the club’s owner, Sheikh Mansour. Before City’s 2-1 defeat at Brighton on November 9, their last game before the international break, Guardiola was asked if he planned to visit Abu Dhabi again. He responded, “No. I’ve mentioned many times, I won’t discuss it [a new contract]. When it happens, it will happen. We communicate regularly.”

City has now lost their last four matches, marking the first time in Guardiola’s 15-year managerial career that he has overseen such a streak. Despite this, they remain second in the league with 23 points from the first 11 matches, trailing leaders Liverpool by five points. The club is also defending itself against over 100 charges of alleged financial misconduct brought by the Premier League. City denies all charges, and Guardiola’s decision to extend his contract signals a renewed commitment to achieving further success.

This decision also indicates that Guardiola has not been swayed by the departure of City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, who left in the summer. Begiristain, a former teammate and close friend of Guardiola from their Barcelona days, will be replaced by Hugo Viana, who currently holds the same role at Sporting.

Guardiola is already the most successful manager in City’s history. In his eight years with the club, the 53-year-old has led City to six Premier League titles, including the last four consecutively, a record. He also secured City’s first-ever Champions League title in 2023, along with two FA Cups and four League Cups.

On Saturday, Guardiola aims to end the four-game losing streak when Tottenham visits the Etihad Stadium for the 5.30pm kickoff. After the 4-1 defeat at Sporting in the Champions League, the third loss in the streak, Guardiola acknowledged, “It will be a challenging season — we knew that from the start. But this is what it is. I embrace it, I love it, I want to confront it and lift my players to try again.”

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