Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Pep Guardiola has signed contract extensions in May 2018, November 2020 and November 2022. Speaking in May after City's historic fourth successive league title, Guardiola said he was "closer to leaving than staying".

Guardiola later said "part of me is leaving" when director of football Txiki Begiristain announced in October that he - a long-time ally - would be moving on from City at the end of the season.

Former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Guardiola said he wanted to be "really convinced" that any extension of his own stay would be "the best for the club".

The uncertainty over Guardiola’s future has been cited by some as a reason for the team's poor form.

There is also no timescale for the outcome of the disciplinary case brought by the Premier League for the 115 charges against City, which the club deny but could bring a huge sanction if guilt is established. Guardiola has continually backed the club and said critics need to wait for the final decision in the case before rushing to condemn.

He is the longest-serving current manager in the Premier League, after Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool in the summer.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast

It is quite interesting. It felt to me as though [Manchester City boss] Pep Guardiola was defending the club this year. He's brought up the situation with the charges himself on a couple of occasions when he didn't really need to and he has always been resolute in his defence of the club and insisted that people within the club, who insist that they've done nothing wrong, are telling him what he believes to be the truth.

He will stand by the club and is also warning against a rush to judgement. We don't quite know when this hearing is going to conclude and we don't know when there is going to be a decision.

It would be fairly safe to assume that it will be at some point this season. So yes, he has committed himself beyond the outcome of the hearing, which he and we don't know what that will be.

Found Rio Ferdinand's burner account!

People try and make comparisons of who's better. Just enjoy it man, we're lucky to be in this time

Image source, Getty Images

Metro

Perhaps the Pep Guardiola news broke after the Metro laid out today's back page as it leads on Jurgen Klopp reportedly floating the idea of replacing Mohamed Salah with Antony, before Salah agreed a new deal at Liverpool and Antony left Ajax for Manchester United.

Can you imagine if that came about?!

Image source, Metro

You can click on the poll above to say whether you think Pep Guardiola is the best manager in Premier League history.

So far, 56% of you think not.

We want to know why you think not though. What more does he need to achieve with Manchester City? Can he never be the best ever because of the situation he stepped into at the Etihad? Who has been a better manager and why?

Let us know your thoughts via the usual channels above.

Henry, a Leeds fan living in Camden:Re: Matt at 08:45 I think Kalvin Phillips might have something to say about your claim there isn't a City player that Pep hasn't improved. He went from England's player of the year in 2020 to being shipped out on loan, a shadow of his former self after his time at City. Pep's a great manager, but his player improvement record is definitely not 100%.

Image source, Getty Images

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium

Craig Bellamy could scarcely have wished for a better start as Wales head coach.

The former captain is unbeaten with three draws and three wins, rounding off his first campaign with Tuesday's emphatic 4-1 victory over Iceland to secure promotion to the top tier of the Nations League.

Perhaps more significantly, winning Group B4 also means Wales have almost guaranteed themselves at least a play-off place for the 2026 World Cup.

This has all been done as Bellamy aims to instil a progressive new style of play, one which he hopes will help Wales not only qualify for major tournaments, but allow them to make a "big impact" when they get there.

With Wales now having to wait until March 2025 before they return to action, BBC Sport Wales takes a closer look at Bellamy's first campaign.

Image source, PA Media

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium

ICYMI, Wales pulled off an improbable return to the Nations League's top tier as they came from behind to beat Iceland convincingly in Cardiff – with Montenegro's win over Turkey helping secure promotion for Craig Bellamy’s side.

Turkey had started the night at the summit of Group B4, with Wales two points behind in second place and Iceland a further two points back in third.

Needing to win at Cardiff City Stadium while also hoping for a favour from Montenegro, Welsh hopes took an early hit as Andri Gudjohnsen fired Iceland ahead in the seventh minute, following up sharply after Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward had made a brilliant save from Orri Oskarsson's header.

But Liam Cullen's first two international goals – one from Brennan Johnson's inviting cross, the second helping Daniel James' half-saved shot over the line – put Wales in front at half-time.

Cullen set up Johnson to score Wales' third with a cool finish after the break, before Harry Wilson struck his fourth goal in five international appearances with a sumptuous dipping effort from 20 yards.

Image source, PA Media

As Pep Guardiola agrees a new contract to stay at Manchester City for another season, BBC Sport looks at how he compares to other legendary club managers.

We have 12 bosses to pick from in our poll here, and if you need to know a bit more about any of them, we have the key details.

Image source, Reuters

Matt, a Liverpool fan, West Kensington: I hear your criticism Mike but I can’t think of a City player who’s arrived and Pep hasn’t made them better. Not only that, motivating your players year in, year out, is tremendously hard because hardly any manager can do it like Pep. How do you win the Treble then back it up and win the league the next season versus a very good Arsenal side? It’s bonkers.

Remember, you can vote in our poll above on whether Pep Guardiola is the Premier League's best ever manager.

Image source, Getty Images

Pep Guardiola isn't leaving as Manchester City manager just yet.

He has agreed a new one-year deal at the club - taking him to summer 2026 - as he looks to add to the 18 trophies he has already won at the club.

We've already looked at some of Guardiola's most famous quotes - but can you spot the ones that aren't his in our quiz?

Hhmm, that's an interesting thought Oli. Are Man City already out of the title race?

Manchester City

Darren is clearly a fan of Pep Guardiola and what he has achieved with his Manchester City team. Not everyone feels like that though.

When our very own Simon Stone hinted at that back in May, Guardiola had a priceless response.

Guardiola's side went on to beat West Ham 3-1 at Etihad Stadium on the final day of the 2023-24 season, to become the first men's team to become English champions four seasons in a row.

Manchester City

We mentioned another legendary Premier League manager earlier, Sir Alex Ferguson. The former Manchester United boss coined the phrase 'squeaky bum time', not that Pep Guardiola was aware of it.

Has anyone tried to translate that to Catalan??

But can he do it on a cold Tuesday night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium?

Actually, to be fair to Mike, that is one thing that can be held against Guardiola, having only managed three very strong club sides who were expected to win, in Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City.

Manchester City

Image source, Getty Images

Now let's have a look at some of Pep Guardiola's best moments as Manchester City boss, beginning with when he said he would cover the costs of a banner some City fans produced earlier this season asking for Guardiola to stay, in his native Catalan, beside two Catalan flags.

Guillem Balague
Spanish football journalist and Pep Guardiola's biographer

Decisions will have to be made with big names who are coming to the ends of their contracts, and their future - Kevin de Bruyne's contract expires this summer, and Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Kyle Walker and Ederson's current deals run out in 2026 - and he is happy to make them.

For the last month, City have been 90% sure he was going to stay but there was always the doubt.

The decision of director of football Txiki Begiristain to leave next summer had nothing to do with Guardiola's future. Begiristain wanted to leave last season but was asked to stay one extra year and help with the transition. But he was ready to go for the next step in his life.

It became clear that Guardiola's demeanour had changed a bit after winning the Champions League. He had won everything. Was there more to win?

But, he has found himself with the energy to continue and he feels he can give one more year.

Image source, EPA