It was hard to see how Manchester City could top Sunday’s emotional farewell to Pep Guardiola, Bernardo Silva, and John Stones. All three club legends, plus Ederson and Ilkay Gundogan, said goodbye to the City fans at the Etihad Stadium following City’s final Premier League fixture of the 2025-26 season against Aston Villa. The farewells to that selection of City players were perfect in their own way. However, City topped that yesterday with their parade through Manchester and after-party at Co-op Live. The parade and after-party celebrated the achievements of the City first team, women’s team, and youth teams from the 2025-26 season. Given that celebrating the club’s achievements has always been a priority for Pep Guardiola, yesterday was the perfect way to end 10 years of dominance by Manchester City.
Yesterday’s parade and after-party were a fitting way for every level at Manchester City to celebrate their success achieved during the 2025-26 season. Pep Guardiola’s side won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup this season. Manchester City’s women’s side won the Barclays Women’s Super League and have the chance to add more silverware this weekend when they face Brighton in the FA Cup final. Manchester City’s academy and under-18 side celebrated their FA Youth Cup and Under-18 Premier League North triumph.
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The parade through Manchester was a celebration of all things Manchester City. City fans turned out in their droves to celebrate Manchester City’s club achievements and bid farewell to Pep Guardiola, John Stones, and Bernardo Silva. There is a real connection between City, the club, and their fans in Manchester and throughout the world. That was evident throughout the parade yesterday. It was impossible to miss, which speaks volumes about how well Manchester City has established itself. Pep Guardiola has spoken on this topic on several occasions. The fact that it couldn’t be missed yesterday was a fitting tribute in itself to what Guardiola has established at Manchester City.
Following the parade, the party continued at Co-op Live. Fittingly, every team had their moment to celebrate at the after-party. Manchester City woman’s team also announced that star striker Bunny Shaw had extended her contract with the club. That was a special moment in itself given how much Shaw has achieved with Manchester City’s woman’s team and how vital she is to them.
Manchester City also paraded the 20 trophies won during Pep Guardiola’s decade as City manager. It was remarkable to see the glittering array of trophies on display. Also, seeing club heroes and legends return to celebrate their past achievements was another special moment. Vincent Kompany, Ederson, Fernandinho, Jack Grealish, Mike Summerbee and former Director of Football Txiki Begiristain, and current City players had their moments celebrating past achievements. The biggest cheer of the night came when former City captain and current Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany emerged. The roof came off Co-op Live and in a way it feels like Manchester City were providing a glimpse into the future as it seems certain that one day in the future Kompany will manage his club.
