Why has Pep Guardiola given every member of Manchester City's staff £10,000 of his own money?

By
published

Pep Guardiola has given an incredibly generous bonus to his staff - out of his own pocket

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola poses with the Premier League trophy, 2024
Pep Guardiola is entering the final year of his contract at Manchester City (Image credit: Alamy)

Pep Guardiola is not only an incredibly successful manager – it turns out he is a pretty generous one too.

The Manchester City boss has, according to The Times, given a significant bonus to every member of the club’s support staff who work within the first-team building at the Etihad campus. The incredibly generous gift is thought to be around £10,000 with the money coming directly from Guardiola.

Around 60-70 people work in the building and have received the bonus, ranging from kit men and physios, to security staff and receptionists.

VIDEO: Why Savio Means Man City Won't Miss Julian Alvarez

Why has Pep Guardiola given City staff a personal bonus?

From the outside the generous donations could appear excessive.

But Guardiola has handed out the bonuses as a gesture of his appreciation for their work last season, with total outlay thought to be in excess of £500,000.

It emphasises how the former Barcelona manager places great importance on fostering team spirit and building connections, between both staff and players.

Guardiola knows just how big a part the backroom team play in the overall mood and success of the club – having heavily focused on creating a wider sense of unity since taking charge in 2016.

Ferran Soriano the Chief Executive Officer of Manchester City, Khaldoon Al Mubarak the Chairman of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola the manager of Manchester City and Txiki Begiristain the Director of Football of Manchester City celebrate after the Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Etihad Stadium on May 21, 2023 in Manchester, England.

Pep could leave City at the end of the 2024-25 season when his contract is due to expire (Image credit: Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)

The City boss, whose contract expires at the end of the season, has regularly highlighted their importance throughout his eight-year spell at the Etihad Stadium.

“More or less these years we have been perfectly together, players, club, staff, backroom staff,” Guardiola said in a press conference last season. “The mood is really good and has been for many years.”

In what could be his final season in England, Guardiola is chasing a record fifth straight Premier League title with City.

Although his deal is up in June 2025 he has not ruled out signing a fresh extension with the champions.

More Manchester City stories

Manchester City edging closer to all-time transfer record, as deadline approaches

Why are Oasis not playing gigs at the Etihad Stadium in 2025?

Manchester City to make move for Premier League wonderkid: report

Jack Lacey-Hatton
Jack Lacey-Hatton
Freelance writer

Jack has worked as a sports reporter full-time since 2021. He previously worked as the Chief Women’s Football Writer at the Mirror, covering the England Women’s national team and the Women’s Super League. Jack has reported on a number of major sporting events in recent years including the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on the ground in Australia. When not writing on football, he can often be spotted playing the game somewhere in west London.