Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has gifted £10,000 to first-team staff members at the City Football Academy.
The 53-year-old personally outlaid over £500,000 to provide a bonus to Manchester City first-team staff working at the City Football Academy, rewarding employees following the Sky Blues’ latest successes during the recent 2023/24 campaign.
Manchester City became the first English side to win four successive Premier League titles in May, and also lifted both the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup last season, as well as reaching the Emirates FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
May’s Premier League title success, which came as a result of a 3-1 win over West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium, was Guardiola’s 17th major trophy in east Manchester, and sixth Premier League title in seven years.
Manchester City beat Arsenal to the trophy for a second consecutive campaign, and have also marked the start of the new 2024/25 season with silverware, winning the FA Community Shield against Manchester United after a thrilling penalty shoot-out.
Guardiola’s squad also famously became the first side since Manchester United in 1999 to complete the treble last year, lifting the Premier League, UEFA Champions League and FA Cup.
The Catalan, who is out of contract with Manchester City at the end of the campaign, has now personally provided a financial reward to staff at the first-team building following last season’s success, reports Paul Hirst.
The journalist reveals that about 60 to 70 people who work in the first-team building, including chefs, receptionists, physiotherapists, kit men, baristas and security staff, all received a £10,000 bonus from Guardiola.
The financial gift was recently received by every employee who works in the first-team building at the club’s training ground, costing the Catalan in excess of £500,000, according to BBC Sport.
Guardiola has been at the Etihad Stadium since 2016, and has continually praised the work of backroom staff at Manchester City for the Blues’ prolonged silverware success.
The £10,000 bonus isn’t the first gift staff at Manchester City’s first-team building have received, with Sergio Aguero having famously spent around £60,000 to provide engraved luxury watches as a parting present in 2021.