Three major tasks loom for Manchester City’s Txiki Begiristain before Etihad Stadium exit | OneFootball

Manchester City’s outgoing Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain will be tasked with potentially three major tasks before he leaves the club in the summer of 2025.

The Premier League champions confirmed over the weekend in an official club statement that Txiki Begiristain would be stepping away from his full-time role as Director of Football at the end of the ongoing 2024/25 season.

It was further detailed that the 60-year-old, who has been integral to every trophy won under Pep Guardiola in particular, will leave his current post following the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, at which point he will be succeeded by Sporting CP’s Hugo Viana.

The 41-year-old former footballer, who has endured a remarkable time with the Portuguese club, will begin his full-time role at the Etihad Stadium in the summer of 2025, but will ‘collaborate’ with Begiristain in the preceding months to ‘ensure a smooth transition’.

But the coming months will be far from an opportunity for Txiki Begiristain to take his time with fond farewells and best wishes, with a new report detailing the hard work and huge decisions that face the former Barcelona chief to ensure future success at the club.

According to the Manchester Evening News’ Simon Bajkowski, those around Manchester City are not expecting any let-up from Txiki Begiristain before his leaving party and eventual exit from the Etihad Stadium.

It is clarified that the ongoing 2024/25 season is ‘another for him to work’, up to and including next summer’s FIFA Club World Cup in the United States ending mid-way through July, as opposed to a ‘winding down’ of his commitments.

As such, it is highlighted that it will be Txiki Begiristain ‘nailing his reputation’ to big decisions including Pep Guardiola’s future at the Etihad Stadium, a possible new manager arriving depending on Guardiola’s decision, and the end of Kevin De Bruyne’s contract.

The Etihad Stadium head coach has been hugely complimentary of Begiristain’s achievements during their time together at Manchester City, and has often pointed towards their close personal and professional relationship as a reason behind success.

“He likes that position [sporting director], and I respect him a lot,” Guardiola said during a press conference earlier this year.

“He’s a close friend, we were together in Barcelona, met each other 25 or 30 years [ago]. He’s more calm, and I’m more energetic, so this balance helps us to work perfectly,” he continued.

It remains to be seen what Pep Guardiola’s own view is of the imminent change over in the Director of Football role, however a press conference is due on Friday afternoon as an opportunity to look ahead to Manchester City’s return to action against Wolves at Molineux.