Man City chief Txiki Begiristain to leave in 2025 - Ornstein

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 8 Oct 2024 18:18 BST
• 3 min read

Breaking

Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain is expected to leave at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein.

Begiristain, 60, joined Man City in 2012 and his time at the club will reportedly come to an end next summer.

The Etihad Stadium outfit have already reached an agreement to appoint his replacement, as per Ornstein, with Begiristain playing a key role in the recruitment process.

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The former Spain midfielder had planned to take a step away from operations at Man City when he turned 55, but his relationship with Pep Guardiola ensured that he extended that cut-off by five years.

Begiristain turned 60 in August and the decision for him to leave has been made with the “endorsement of the club hierarchy.”

Man City have won 21 trophies since Begiristain’s arrival, including the Champions League and seven Premier League titles.

READ MORE: Will Man City be relegated amidst 115 charges?

Pep Guardiola on Txiki Begiristain

Guardiola has previously waxed lyrical about Begiristain’s impact at the Etihad Stadium.

“Txiki has been massively important at this club,” he said (as per The Mirror). “He was here before I arrived and was stable in the club.

“He has been really important in these years and part of the enormous success we’ve had in terms of results and many things, he has been so important.

“I do ask him to take responsibility with the media, talk a bit, but he’s so shy. He wants to be behind the scenes so all the shots and the weapons are directed to me.

“But it was the same in Barcelona. He's a close friend and we’ve known each other for 25 or 30 years. He’s calm and that balance helps us work perfectly together.”