Txiki Begiristain Bids Farewell: A Strategic Departure from Manchester City

Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain will leave City at the end of this season, the club has confirmed. After playing a role in improving and building Manchester City to become the best football club in the world, Begiristain, who has been of importance in the club’s success over the past ten years, decided to leave. So why is he leaving at this time?

Begiristain’s decision to leave wasn’t made overnight. To be honest, his initial plan was to retire a few years back, maybe when he was 55 years old. But Manchester City’s extraordinary success made him postpone his retirement. City has consistently performed at the best form under his direction, bringing home multiple Premier League titles, domestic cups, and even its first-ever UEFA Champions League victory. Begiristain felt the need to stay longer and carry on managing the club’s affairs because the team was making such progress and he didn’t want to stop it.

Despite this, Begiristain’s retirement at the end of the 2024–2025 season was announced last year. He had given the club prior notice so that they could make arrangements for his departure and find a suitable replacement for him role. Though he didn’t make the decision lightly, he believed it was time to hand things over to someone else after years of consistent success.

Another reason for his exit now was his desire to leave while Manchester City is still successful. Begiristain wants to make sure he leaves the club in a better position, that was why he didn’t wait for a performance decline. The team has never seen more success under his direction, so he feels that this is the best time to give up control while things are still going well at the club. Begiristain can leave the team knowing that he helped create a fantastic club by departing during this time of dominance.

The timing also allows Hugo Viana, his successor, to take over with ease. Begiristain has made sure there won’t be any instability or disturbance at the club by giving a long prior notice of his departure. Txiki was personally involved in the process of selecting and screening Viana, who has his own excellent history. This thoughtful preparation shows his desire to see to it that Manchester City is successful even after he leaves the club.

It’s not an easy job to be the director of football of one of the most successful football clubs in the world. It comes with a lot of pressure, persistent problems, and continual decision-making. Begiristain has been in charge of Manchester City’s football operations for more than ten years. He has supervised transfers, built connections with managers, and made sure the squad plays at its best.

Certainly, this job’s continuous nature has comes a price. Making difficult decisions, acquiring elite players, and operating in the competitive world of European football were all part of Txiki’s job description. It makes sense that, after years of achieving success, he would feel ready to give up such a hard job and take advantage of a quiet and calm life.

Begiristain’s goal to leave a lasting legacy is also evident in his decision for departure. He has had a big impact at Manchester City. He joined the team in 2012 and has since been in charge of signing of plenty big players, helping build one of the best football teams in the league. City has dominated English football and established itself as a reputable team on the international level under his direction. The team’s winning mentality and style of play have been greatly influenced by his partnership with coaches such as Pep Guardiola.

Begiristain can now look back on his time at City with great pride as the team is firmly established as one of the best in Europe. He has been a big part in setting the foundations for the club’s long-term prosperity, and he is confident that it will prosper going forward under Hugo Viana’s leadership.

Begiristain’s future plans have not yet been made public, but it is obvious that he is leaving the spotlight of football. It’s likely that he will take some time to enjoy his well-earned rest after such a demanding time at Manchester City. His departure is the end of an era for Manchester City and him, regardless of whether he stays involved in football in a more casual way or pursues other endeavors entirely.