Manchester City announce major exit from Etihad Stadium hierarchy as new era looms for Premier League champions | OneFootball

Premier League champions Manchester City have released an official club statement confirming the exit of a key figure within the Etihad Stadium hierarchy.

The latest major change and development from within the Etihad Stadium comes amid ongoing doubts over the future of manager Pep Guardiola, who is into the final 12 months of his contract with the reigning Premier League champions.

Whilst the 54-year-old will be afforded the necessary time and space to make a decision alongside his immediate family as to whether to hit a decade in charge of the club, Manchester City will simultaneously be doing all they can to persuade him to stay beyond this season.

But perhaps some of Pep Guardiola’s decision will be affected by a major alteration in the club’s hierarchy, as Manchester City confirmed this weekend that there will be a change in the football leadership around the club.

In a statement released by Manchester City, the Premier League giants confirmed that after a 13-year stay with the club, Txiki Begiristain would be leaving his role as Director of Football, and would be replaced by a name from Primeira Liga in Portugal.

A club statement read, “Manchester City can confirm that Txiki Begiristain will step away from his full-time role as Director of Football at the end of the 2024/25 season.

“Following a trophy-laden twelve years at the Etihad Stadium, Txiki will leave his current post following the Club’s involvement in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup and will be succeeded by Hugo Viana of Sporting CP.”

The statement continued, “Viana will begin his full-time role in the summer of 2025, but will collaborate with Txiki in the preceding months to ensure a smooth transition.

“We look forward to paying tribute to Txiki’s outstanding contribution to Manchester City at the end of the season.”

Throughout their time working together within Manchester City, Pep Guardiola has made consistent references to the integral role being played by Txiki Begiristain at the football club.

Speaking in 2021, Guardiola insisted that while Begiristain was ‘so settled’ in his position at Manchester City, he also stated that the Premier League champions were ‘lucky to have him’ in the role he has held for such a long time.

“Manchester City is lucky to have him, he’s so settled. I see what he’s doing for the club. It’s the ideal situation when the sporting director trusts the manager. He knows if we don’t win, he’ll be sacked and I will be sacked,” Guardiola said at the time.

As recently as January 2024, Guardiola made reference to the ‘perfect’ balance constructed between themselves, and highlighted both the ‘respect’ he has for the 60-year-old, but also the close nature of their personal relationship.

“He likes that position [Director of Football], and I respect him a lot,” Guardiola said earlier this year. “He’s a close friend, we were together in Barcelona, met each other 25 or 30 years [ago]. He’s more calm, and I’m more energetic, so this balance helps us to work perfectly.”

Pep Guardiola will not have the opportunity to comment on Hugo Viana’s appointment, and Txiki Begiristain’s exit from Manchester City for another few days, and faces the media next Friday prior to the club’s meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.