What City actually announced

On 22 May 2026 Manchester City said Pep Guardiola would step down as manager that summer, after ten years and 20 major trophies. The club called him the most successful manager in its history. He stays with the City Football Group as a Global Ambassador.

Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said the right answer was for Guardiola to finish his journey as manager, and that he would remain with the group. The club said Sunday against Aston Villa would be his 593rd and final game in charge.

Maresca's appointment

On 29 June the club appointed Enzo Maresca on a three-year contract until summer 2029. City said it is his third spell at the club.

Maresca said: “This will be my third spell here. I know this Club, I know the demands and I know the expectations.” Chief executive Ferran Soriano said Maresca had been the stand-out candidate, and named his work at Chelsea, Leicester and with City's EDS among the reasons.

In July the club also named the coaches joining him, including assistant Roberto Vitiello. Those are staffing announcements, not a prediction of how City will play.

The first competitive match

Maresca's first competitive fixture was the FA Community Shield on 16 August at the Principality Stadium. Arsenal won 3–0. The FA's match report timed Riccardo Calafiori's opening goal at 24 seconds, named Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard as the other scorers, and described the afternoon as Maresca's first competitive match in charge.

A Community Shield is a curtain-raiser. It is not a Premier League result and it is not a verdict on a season that has not started.

The first league match

Manchester City's first 2026/27 Premier League match is at home to AFC Bournemouth on Sunday 23 August, 14:00 BST, live on Sky Sports.

Bournemouth also begin the season under a new head coach, Marco Rose — confirmed on the club's own site. Two new appointments, one published kick-off.

What this page will not tell you

It will not tell you whether City can win the league without Guardiola. It will not list a predicted XI. It will not treat transfer rumours — including anything about Rodri — as fact. Rumours stay off this page until a club confirms them.

The draft title asked what happens next. The honest answer, two days before the league starts, is: a home match against Bournemouth, under a manager City have officially appointed. Everything else is still unplayed.