Pep Guardiola is preparing for life at Manchester City without his trusted friend and long-time collaborator, Txiki Begiristain, who has announced his departure.
Begiristain, who joined City as sporting director in 2012 and played a key role in building the club’s success over the last decade, is stepping down at the end of the season. He will be replaced by Sporting Lisbon’s Hugo Viana, who will work alongside Begiristain from February before fully taking over after the Club World Cup in July.
For Guardiola, the departure of Begiristain is more than just losing a colleague—it’s the loss of a calming influence and a close friend. Begiristain was the man who gave Guardiola his first big break as a coach at Barcelona, and their bond has only strengthened since.
“A part of me is leaving, I would say,” Guardiola admitted. “He’s not just a friend; he’s the architect behind one of the best teams ever at Barcelona and now here at City.”
Guardiola has known about Begiristain’s decision for a while, as it stems from personal and family reasons. But despite having time to process it, Guardiola acknowledges it’s still a hard goodbye.
“Personally, I’ll miss him deeply. He’s been a rock for me, especially in the tough moments. He brought me balance. I can be very intense, and when things go wrong, I want to tear everything down. But he always knew how to calm me. ‘See you tomorrow, let’s have a coffee,’ he’d say. That steady hand made all the difference.”
Guardiola fondly recalled how Begiristain’s calm and measured approach helped him during their time at Barcelona and continued to do so at City. But despite the emotional blow, Guardiola is confident that the club will remain strong in Begiristain’s absence.
“The club is incredibly well-structured,” he said. “Families have to move on, and the club will do the same.”
