Pep Guardiola gave an emotional final farewell to Manchester City during a post-parade celebration marking the club’s domestic cup double triumph.

Thousands of supporters filled the streets of Manchester to celebrate the team’s success before gathering at the Co-Op Live arena, where tributes were paid to the departing manager along with outgoing stars Bernardo Silva and John Stones.

Guardiola spoke about the deep bond he shared with the club and its fans, saying that he would keep them close to his heart “for the rest of his life.”

Earlier in the day, Manchester’s city centre was packed with blue as fans celebrated their heroes during the parade.

Although City missed out on the Premier League title this season, the mood among the players remained jubilant. Marc Guéhi, in particular, was all smiles as he celebrated back-to-back FA Cup victories.

Guéhi is expected to partner John Stones for England at the upcoming World Cup, but it was also a moment of farewell for Stones — one of Guardiola’s earliest signings and a vital part of the club’s historic treble-winning campaign in 2023.

Bernardo Silva, who was seen in tears at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, expressed a different kind of emotion this time, raising a glass to an extraordinary nine-year spell with Manchester City.

As part of the farewell event, all 20 trophies secured during Guardiola’s remarkable decade of dominance were displayed on stage. The return of Vincent Kompany, who captained City to their first four Premier League titles, drew a thunderous reception from the crowd.

Supporters also honoured Guardiola with a familiar chant that has echoed since his debut match in charge — a 2-1 victory over Sunderland in August 2016.

The evening marked the end of an era for City and the Premier League, signalling a fresh chapter not only for Manchester but also for the global football landscape.