By Abigail David
Basketball legend Michael Jordan led tributes to Pep Guardiola as the Spaniard bid an emotional farewell to Manchester City after a trophy-filled decade in charge.
Guardiola, 55, announced last week that he would leave the club, ending a remarkable 10-year spell during which he won 20 trophies and established City as one of Europe’s dominant football forces.
About 19,000 supporters gathered at Co-op Live for a farewell celebration featuring emotional speeches, surprise appearances and video tributes.
Jordan appeared on the arena’s giant screen to congratulate Guardiola on what he described as an “unbelievable career,” while also wishing him well in retirement and on the golf course.
Former City captain Vincent Kompany, now manager of Bayern Munich, made a surprise appearance, drawing loud cheers from fans.
Tributes also came from golfer Tommy Fleetwood and veteran football manager Neil Warnock, who described Guardiola as the best manager he had ever seen.
Earlier, thousands of fans lined the streets of Manchester as the club’s men’s, women’s and academy teams paraded their trophies before the farewell event.
An emotional Guardiola thanked supporters, saying they would remain in his heart forever.
Departing players Bernardo Silva and John Stones were also honoured, while striker Erling Haaland urged the team to continue pushing forward after Guardiola’s exit.
