LONDON: Pep Guardiola, fresh from winning the Premier League title, has signed a new Manchester City contract through 2021 to make the strongest long-term commitment of his managerial career.
Completing five years at the Abu Dhabi-owned club would represent Guardiola’s longest tenure in a coaching job.
He spent four years at Barcelona, winning three Spanish league titles and the Champions League twice among 13 honors.
After taking a sabbatical, Guardiola took charge of Bayern Munich and won the Bundesliga in each of his three years in Germany.
Guardiola moved onto Manchester in 2016 and endured criticism through a trophyless first season but he completed his second campaign at City this month as a double winner.
After collecting the League Cup in February, City sealed the Premier League with five games to spare.
“I am so happy and excited. It’s a pleasure to be able to work here,” Guardiola said Thursday. “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 principle target at City is to deliver the club’s first Champions League title.
“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,” the 47-year-old Guardiola said.
“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.”
City appears to have found stability after a decade under Abu Dhabi ownership, with a manager aiming to cement the team’s dominance after winning three titles since 2012.
“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,” City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said.
“In doing so he has embodied the passion and commitment we all have for the club. I am very much looking forward to the continued impact of his work and to fulfilling our shared ambitions in the coming seasons.”
