Basketball legend Michael Jordan joined thousands of Manchester City fans in paying tribute to Pep Guardiola at the manager’s farewell party on Monday.
Guardiola is set to step down after a glorious decade as City manager, and the Premier League club gave him a fitting farewell during a trophy parade in Manchester.
Jordan, one of the NBA’s all-time greats, was a surprise attendee at the event, delivering a recorded video message greeting Guardiola.
«Hey Pep. This is Michael Jordan. I just wanted to congratulate you on an incredible career,» the former Chicago Bulls star said as Guardiola watched the video on a screen in the Co-op Live ‘after-party’ after the parade.
Referring to Guardiola’s love of golf, Jordan joked: «Enjoy your retirement. Good luck on the links and keep them straight. Congratulations.»
Earlier, fans lined the streets to greet Guardiola as the Spaniard joined City’s players and staff in an open-top bus ride to the Etihad Stadium.
Also read | An emotional Guardiola says memories and connections, not trophies, will define his decade at Manchester City
Guardiola led City to the FA Cup and League Cup in his final season in charge, taking his tally of trophies to 20 since arriving in 2016.
He was the mastermind behind six Premier League title wins and City’s first Champions League title in 2023.
City finished second in the Premier League this season behind champions Arsenal and were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa in Guardiola’s last game on Sunday, with the boss breaking down in tears after the final whistle.
The 55-year-old’s decision to leave City was officially announced on Friday after several days of speculation that he was on the verge of quitting.
A host of current and former City players brought every trophy won during Guardiola’s reign to the Co-op Live stage to the cheers of the sell-out crowd of 19,000.
Guardiola said his final goodbyes in an interview with Oasis rock star Noel Gallagher at the afterparty.
“I think first of all I would like to thank you very much for coming this evening to say goodbye,” Guardiola said.
“To say goodbye to John (Stones) and Bernie (Bernardo Silva) and all these incredible legends like Vinny (Vincent Kompany), Fernandinho, Eddy (Ederson), Jack (Grealish), all of them and many, many more.
“I feel like tonight really shows the connection that this club has. (City chairman) Khaldoon Al Mubarak and all the people and all the City fans who were connected from the first minute.”
«Thank you so much, I don’t have enough gratitude. For the rest of my life, I will always have you in my heart. Thank you very much.»
Published on May 26, 2026
