Pep Guardiola Stand: Man City to rename Etihad North Stand in his honour
Synopsis
Manchester City are naming the newly-expanded Etihad North Stand after Pep Guardiola — a permanent monument to a manager who delivered 20 trophies in 10 years. With a statue also commissioned on Joe Mercer Way, City are making clear this farewell is not just ceremonial: it is institutional memory being set in concrete.
Key Takeaways
Manchester City will rename the Etihad Stadium's North Stand as 'The Pep Guardiola Stand' , unveiled at his final home game on Sunday, 25 May 2025 .
Guardiola departs after 10 years at the club, having won 20 major trophies including six Premier League titles and the 2023 UEFA Champions League .
A statue of Guardiola will be placed outside the stand on Joe Mercer Way .
The expanded North Stand adds over 7,000 seats , taking the Etihad Stadium's total capacity beyond 61,000 .
Guardiola will remain with the City Football Group as a Global Ambassador after stepping down as manager.
City's final home game follows their loss of the 2025-26 Premier League title to Arsenal , ending a 22-year wait for the Gunners.
Manchester City have announced that the newly-expanded North Stand at the Etihad Stadium will be renamed 'The Pep Guardiola Stand', honouring the departing manager as he concludes a historic 10-year tenure at the club. The stand will be officially unveiled during Guardiola's final home match against Aston Villa on Sunday, 25 May 2025, marking an emotional send-off for the Spaniard who reshaped English football.
A Decade of Dominance
Since joining Manchester City in 2016, Pep Guardiola guided the club to 20 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League crown in 2023. His tenure is widely regarded as the most successful period in the club's history, transforming City into one of world football's dominant forces.
The honour was bestowed by club owner Sheikh Mansour, who credited Guardiola not just for silverware, but for the manner in which it was won. 'He has made an indelible imprint on the DNA of the Club. One that is borne more from how he won than from the many trophies he lifted,' Sheikh Mansour said in a club statement. 'He has the unending gratitude of myself and the entire City family, a family of which he will always be part,' he added.
The Stand and the Statue
The expanded North Stand, under development since late 2023, adds more than 7,000 seats to the Etihad Stadium, pushing the venue's total capacity beyond 61,000. The redevelopment also encompasses a new entertainment district featuring Medlock Square, a 401-room hotel, museum space, restaurants, bars, and retail outlets.
Alongside the stand renaming, a statue of Guardiola will be commissioned and placed outside the newly named stand on Joe Mercer Way. Club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak described the tribute as a fitting permanent legacy. 'The Pep Guardiola Stand, and the statue that will sit outside it, rightly ensure that Pep's legacy will remain forever woven into the fabric of this football club, the city of Manchester and English football,' he said.
Guardiola's Farewell and Future Role
Guardiola confirmed his departure at the end of the 2025-26 season, saying: 'Deep inside, I know it's my time. Nothing is eternal; if it were, I would be here.' Despite stepping down as manager, he will continue his association with the City Football Group as a Global Ambassador, providing technical advice and working on strategic projects across the group's clubs.
His final home game comes just days after Manchester City surrendered the 2025-26 Premier League title to Arsenal, whose triumph ended a 22-year wait for the league crown — a bittersweet backdrop to an otherwise celebratory farewell.
What Comes Next
With the stand unveiled and a statue in the pipeline, City's focus now shifts to the managerial succession. The club has yet to officially announce Guardiola's replacement, and how the new era is shaped will be the defining test of whether the structures Guardiola built can sustain City's standing at the summit of English football.
Point of View
Departing manager is rare in English football — and deliberately so. City are doing something more calculated than sentiment: they are institutionalising the Guardiola era before the successor even arrives, making the comparison inescapable. The timing is also telling. The unveiling comes days after Arsenal ended City's domestic dominance, which means Guardiola exits not in triumph but in transition. The statue and the stand are, in part, a way of anchoring the club's identity to a period that may prove difficult to replicate. Whether the next manager thrives or struggles in that shadow will define City's next chapter far more than any trophy count.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Manchester City naming a stand after Pep Guardiola?
Manchester City are renaming the Etihad Stadium's newly-expanded North Stand 'The Pep Guardiola Stand' in recognition of his extraordinary contribution over 10 years, during which he delivered 20 major trophies. The honour was bestowed by club owner Sheikh Mansour.
When will The Pep Guardiola Stand be officially unveiled?
The stand will be officially unveiled during Guardiola's final home game against Aston Villa on Sunday, 25 May 2025. It marks the emotional conclusion of his decade-long tenure as Manchester City manager.
What trophies did Pep Guardiola win at Manchester City?
Guardiola won 20 major trophies at Manchester City across his 10-year spell, including six Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2023. His tenure is the most successful in the club's history.
Will Guardiola have any role at Manchester City after leaving as manager?
Yes. Despite stepping down as manager at the end of the 2025-26 season, Guardiola will continue with the City Football Group as a Global Ambassador, providing technical advice and contributing to strategic projects across the group's clubs.
What else is included in the Etihad Stadium's North Stand expansion?
The expanded North Stand adds more than 7,000 seats, taking the Etihad's total capacity beyond 61,000. The redevelopment also includes Medlock Square, a 401-room hotel, museum space, restaurants, bars, and retail outlets.
