Manchester City announced on Saturday that their director of football, Txiki Begiristain, will be stepping down from his role at the end of the season. The club will be replacing him with Hugo Viana, the current director of football at Sporting Lisbon.
Begiristain has been a crucial figure at Manchester City for the past 12 years, overseeing the club’s transformation into a dominant force in English and European football. His departure marks the end of an era for the Premier League champions.
“Following a trophy-laden 12 years at the Etihad Stadium, Txiki will leave his current post following the club’s involvement in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup and will be succeeded by Hugo Viana of Sporting CP,” the club said in a statement.
Viana will officially take over the role in the summer of 2025 but will collaborate closely with Begiristain in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition.
Manchester City has expressed its gratitude for Begiristain’s outstanding contributions to the club and will pay tribute to him at the end of the season.
Begiristain’s departure has sparked speculation about the future of manager Pep Guardiola, whose contract also expires at the end of the season. While Guardiola has hinted that he may be nearing the end of his time in England, his decision on whether to extend his contract remains uncertain.
