Manchester City Director Txiki Begiristain Resigns After 13 Years

Last Updated:July 31, 2025, 22:37 IST

Txiki Begiristain steps down as Manchester City's Director of Football after 13 years. Hugo Viana from Sporting CP will succeed him.

Txiki Begiristain with Pep Guardiola after their UEFA Champions League win (X)

Manchester City’s long-serving Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain, has officially stepped down after 13 transformative years at the club. The Premier League champions confirmed on Thursday that Hugo Viana, currently Sporting CP’s director of football, will take over the role.

Begiristain, 60, joined City in 2012 and has been a key figure behind the club’s most successful period in history. Under his stewardship, City won seven Premier League titles, two FA Cups, six EFL Cups, the UEFA Champions League, and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Working closely with City’s ownership and board, Begiristain was instrumental in building the team’s elite recruitment structure and modernizing its football operations. His tenure is widely credited with reshaping the club into a dominant force in European football, both on and off the pitch.

Begiristain played a crucial role in identifying and securing world-class talent, including Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, and Rodri, while also maintaining one of the most consistent squads in top-flight football. His deep ties to Spanish football and earlier success as Barcelona’s Director of Football from 2003 to 2010 brought strategic vision and credibility to City’s football project.

Guardiola’s Future Now Under the Spotlight

Begiristain’s departure has sparked fresh speculation about Pep Guardiola’s future at the club. The two Spaniards have maintained a close professional relationship since Guardiola’s arrival in 2016, working hand-in-hand to build one of the most formidable teams in European football.

Guardiola’s current contract is set to expire at the end of the 2024–25 season, and he has yet to confirm his long-term plans. Begiristain’s exit removes a long-time ally from the executive structure, leading to questions about whether Guardiola may also consider moving on after nearly a decade in charge.

Hugo Viana Steps In

Begiristain will be succeeded by Hugo Viana, the 41-year-old former Portuguese international and current Sporting CP executive. Viana has earned plaudits in Portugal for his sharp eye for talent and his role in Sporting’s recent resurgence, including their 2021 Primeira Liga title win — their first in 19 years.

(with Reuters inputs)

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

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