Man City agree deal to bring in ex-Newcastle star to replace departing Txiki Begiristain

Manchester City has moved rapidly to identify a replacement for director of football Txiki Begiristain, who will leave the club at the end of the season after working closely with Pep Guardiola.

Manchester City have agreed to appoint Hugo Viana from Sporting Lisbon as director of football, replacing Txiki Begiristain.

Begiristain said earlier this week that he will step down at the end of the 2024/25 season. The 60-year-old joined City in 2012 and was key in bringing Pep Guardiola to the club as manager four years later, having previously played and worked together at Barcelona.

Begiristain has had a tremendous influence on City over the last 12 years, helping them become Premier League juggernauts and one of Europe’s finest teams. He has led the team to six Premier League titles in the last seven years, as well as the Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, and team World Cup.

His will be huge shoes to fill, but City believes they have found the ideal person for the job. According to the Daily Mail, City have reached an agreement with Viana to succeed Begiristain next summer. City allegedly wants Viana to come early next year so Begiristain can show him the ropes during a six-month handover period.

Viana has been Sporting’s director of football since 2018, and he has helped supervise the club’s most successful time in its history. The 41-year-old former midfielder, who has played for Newcastle, Valencia, and Braga, was the one who took a chance on manager Ruben Amorim.

Sporting spent £10 million to get Amorim from Braga and have been well rewarded, winning two of the previous four Portuguese titles. The team is presently top of the Primeira Liga after eight consecutive victories this season, and Viana’s efforts have been rewarded with a transfer to City, who will face Sporting in the Champions League on November 5.

Begiristain’s resignation is crucial for City due of his tight relationship with Guardiola. The Catalan manager’s contract expires at the end of the season, and he has yet to decide whether to extend it.

According to reports, Guardiola’s future at City will be unaffected by his close ally’s departure. But the 53-year-old has been at City for eight years, longer than he was at Barcelona or Bayern Munich, and concerns will undoubtedly be raised in the coming months.

Guardiola has already expressed his respect for Begiristain. “Txiki has been massively important at this club,” remarked the coach. “He had been here before I came and was established in the club. He has been really crucial over the years, and he has contributed significantly to our huge success in terms of outcomes and other aspects.

“I ask him to take responsibility with the media and say a little, but he’s very bashful. He wants to be behind the scenes, so all of the gunfire and weaponry are pointed at me. However, it was the same in Barcelona. He is a dear buddy, and we have known each other for 25 or 30 years. He’s calm, and that balance allows us to work well together.”