Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Enzo Maresca, who took Leicester back into the Premier League before winning the Conference League then the Club World Cup at Chelsea, is another graduate of the Pep Guardiola coaching academy.

There would undoubtedly be an element of risk to his appointment and he would be following the hardest act of all. And Maresca can be a combustible personality, evidenced by him leaving Chelsea in January after fractures appeared with the club's hierarchy.

His time at Chelsea was regarded as a success, with qualifications, his possession-based football not always winning favour with supporters.

Succeeding Guardiola, and somehow trying to replicate his remarkable successes, will be bring heavy pressures and intense scrutiny.

In Maresca's favour, however, is that he would come with a glowing reference from the Spaniard, who believes he never received enough credit for his work at Chelsea. City's hierarchy, crucially, have first-hand knowledge of Maresca's character and ability.

City's Abu Dhabi-based rulers will have been preparing for this day. Every aspect of due diligence will have been done. The rubber stamp would have only been applied after meticulous deliberations.

This will still not stop this being something of a step into the unknown as City finally enter the post-Guardiola era.

Manchester City

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on his most proud achievement: "I don't know, it's a question for the people. Hopefully, they enjoyed watching us play, the moments were fun, the moments we played really good, others its not. It happens, 10 years, all the trophies has been good.

"I would say the first Premier League is important, of course I cannot deny the Champions League, after many years try to be close, all of them.

"There is one sentence that came to my mind when I spoke with Noel Gallagher, we were on the table to win four games in a row and now we won four Premier Leagues in a row. I said wow, that is a good sentence. Maybe since Abu Dhabi took over, to make the incredible step to what the club has become. It makes me so proud, so happy."

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola's wife and two daughters were at the Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena the night a bomb was detonated on 22 May 2017.

The Manchester City manager previously talked about the incident: "I was at home with my son and my wife and daughters were there. She called me, but immediately broke the line. And she told me: 'Something’s happened, something’s happened'

"After we went to the Arena she called me again: ‘We are out, we are out."

There were 22 people killed and hundreds injured in the attack.

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on what the people and spirit of Manchester mean to him: "When you live 10 years here, you know all the corridors of the city. The good and the bad ones. Cris, the mother of my kids and my little daughter were in the Arena in that moment [during the Manchester Arena attack].

"They were lucky and other people were not, always every year, today is the nine year anniversary. When you live 10 years, you are not just a part to it, you live in the city, you know the city. I will try with the club to reflect what it means, my time."

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on the north stand being named after him: "I am speechless, what can I say, Khaldoon [club chairman] called me this morning and said that the club took that decision. I like to feel that my vibe or my energy will be there forever. Maybe the huge honour I can get.

"Just to say thank you to the club to deliver it to me and my family, my father tomorrow will come, 94-years-old, it is an incredible honour to have his name in this beautiful place. Speechless."

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher saying he is the best manager of all time: "Good. Take a beer with them. What do you think? Gary and Jamie, they deserve it? They're Liverpool and United fans.

"Listen, honestly I don't know. I know I had incredible success in my time as manager and it is nice to be there so why not. The biggest compliment I have had. I got a message from Sir Alex Ferguson, that made me so happy. I got a message from Kevin [de Bruyne] today, from [Manuel] Akanji, that is the reason why. It makes me feel how fortunate I am so, It is not important, these kinds of debates.

"I've been happy doing my job in Barcelona, Bayern Munich, here. I did my best, I gave everything, until the last drop of what I have. I am leaving with incredible peace, a sense of peace in my soul, that I gave everything to this club. In a better position, the people especially, enjoy what we have done, many people are involved in that."

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on what state he leaves the team compared to the one he inherited: "It was good in that moment, It's good [now], maybe because of the results, better.

"But always I've said the legacy, that 93:20, what a goal that is the biggest, biggest moment of the club. That is legacy. I inherited that moment, players with experience, Vinny (Vincent Kompany), [Pablo] Zabaleta, many incredible players and we have to continue to grow, grow, grow. That is what the club must be."

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on how much the role takes out of a person: "The job didn't take out anything. It is my job, I know what it is and what is required and I'm ready to enjoy that but at the arrival of the moment, I said.

!It's normal so it's nothing special. The situation is [the team is] incredibly healthy, in a good position, and everyone will continue to push to be that."

Manchester City

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on when he told the players: "This morning. The speech was a disaster, a disaster. I was so nervous, more than ever. I told them like I am telling all of you.

"The question that requires that I have this passion and energy, that's something I always had since a little boy but now I feel that I would not have in the future. I had to be honest with myself but especially for the club that gave me everything, with the people that rely on me incredibly."

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on whether he was feeling like he was running out of energy like Jurgen Klopp said when he was leaving Liverpool: "Absolutely, absolutely. I had, I have, I will not have. It's simple. I feel I would not have the energy that requires to daily, every three days to fight for the title, being in front of the players.

"I know myself, I have that energy but I feel now I will not have [that energy to carry on]. It's just, what is the reason? It's the time. It's 10 years. The biggest decision I had has happened, not because I don't have ambition or I don't want to try it again. It's just OK Pep, after 10 years. It is good to shake, to move, different faces - It's really good for everyone.

"If I will not believe that, if they don't sack me, I would stay here. But, I think it is the perfect moment, perfect time, much better than last season for example and don't take for granted that this season had been exceptional, fighting against Arsenal, this team until the last moment, winning two titles, English competitions, fight every game like the team did it. That's really good."

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on becoming global ambassador for City Football Group: "We sat together and I said I would love to continue to be part of this club. Not manager action, I will take absolutely zero decisions in that. Just to be part of the club, if they need me to represent or do something in the many many clubs that this organisation has.

"I will be there. I like to still be part of this club, in a different role, completely different, not in the daily decisions, not being in front of the spotlights, always behind the scenes. I'd like to be part of that."

Manchester City

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Pep Guardiola is asked about his thoughts on Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville calling him the greatest manager of all time.

The Manchester City boss keeps it short and light, saying: "I will have a beer with them."

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on what his next plans are: "Now rest, no plans to train for a while, otherwise I would be here. I need to step back. I will not train for a while."

Manchester City

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on when he first thought about leaving: "It's not about when, it's not today or tomorrow. You know at the time, you feel OK let's do it. It's not yesterday that it happened or one week ago.

"Of course we were in the competition and I wanted to be completely away from [thinking about leaving] because I need the players to be with me and me with them.

"At the moment, we cannot fight for anything else because it's already achieved so it is the moment to say, OK I want to say a proper goodbye to my people on Sunday, I want to hug them on the pitch, that is why we announced it."

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Pep Guardiola is now starting to become a bit more emotional.

His voice starts to crack a little when he is asked to give his reaction to the North Stand being renamed after him.

"I am speechless," he says, adding he is so proud his father's name will be on top of the stand.

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on why now: "It's the time, it's not go to sleep and wake up one day, the day after and say now is the time to leave. It's a process that I have felt for a while and always the club respects me an unbelievable [amount] for the decision. The club, of course, has to be ready [for his replacement] and I felt [it was time].

"Listen, this job, every few days, many many years, Salzburg and Anfield and Madrid and the FA Cup and [the business] and now I have to see, live my life and see what happens. 10 years is a lot of time and I think the club needs a new manager, new energy, these incredible players we have right now and start to write another chapter."

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Pep Guardiola says he told the players about his decision this morning and his speech was "an absolute disaster."

He also said he has had messages from Sir Alex Ferguson and Kevin [De Bruyne].

Manchester City

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on how it feels to say goodbye to the club after 10 years: "Really satisfied, I don't know the right words. Really satisfied, happy and proud.

"It has been an experience of my life, otherwise it would not have been 10 years so I cannot be more grateful for the amount of love and affection I had, not just today, for many many years and nothing else."

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola says he plans to take a break from coaching after leaving Manchester City.

When asked what the future holds for him, he said: "Now rest. No plans for training for a while. Otherwise I would stay here. I need to step back."

Full quotes to follow...