Manchester City director of football set to leave club at the end of the season – Reports

Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain is reportedly set to leave the club at the end of the ongoing 2024/25 season. Begiristain was appointed as City’s sporting director in 2012, having previously worked as Barcelona’s sporting director from 2003 to 2010.

In Txiki Begiristain’s 12-year stay at Manchester City, he has played an integral role in helping transform the club into domestic and European heavyweights.

According to The Athletic's David Ornstein, Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain is set to depart his role at the end of the season. The report adds that the Cityzens have already reached an agreement with a replacement, who will begin work in early 2025.

Begiristain had initially planned to leave the Etihad five years ago, when he turned 55. However, due to his deep commitment to City’s project and his collaboration with manager Pep Guardiola, he chose to extend his involvement until his 60th birthday, which came in August.

Pep Guardiola once said Txiki Begiristain is the key to Manchester City’s success

Early this year, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola talked about how important Txiki Begiristain has been to the club’s successes in recent years. Prior to Manchester City, Guardiola and Begiristain worked together at Barcelona as manager and technical director. While Begiristain left Barcelona first, he played a key role in convincing Guardiola to move to City back in 2016.

After City parted ways with former chief football operations officer Omar Berrada in January, Guardiola was asked about the situation at the club. In his response, he talked about his confidence in Begiristain. He said (via BBC):

"If you take a look at the clubs who have success, they have had the same sporting director or hierarchy for a long time. Building something takes time. If they believe in the sporting director and the manager and the manager with the players, you know exactly what you have to do."

"Txiki has been massively important at this club. 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."

He added:

"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 25 or 30 years. He’s calm and that balance helps us work perfectly together."