'This is the man who changed everything': Tears flow as Premier League farewells two icons

Pep Guardiola fought back tears on the sideline as he brought 10 years at Manchester City to an end on Monday (AEST).

"It has been f---ing fun," he told his adoring supporters - which prompted an immediately apology to viewers from the broadcasters.

His final game ended in a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa on a day charged with emotion as he said goodbye to the fans he gave so much joy during a decade of dominance in English football.

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"I never could have imagined the amount of love I've found," said Guardiola, standing in the centre of the field at the Etihad Stadium and addressing the crowd.

"It is an incredible, tremendous honour to be your manager, to be here 10 years."

The tears started long before the final whistle, with Guardiola welling up and rubbing his eyes as two of his most loyal servants, Bernardo Silva and John Stones, also said farewell and were given guards of honour when substituted in the second half.

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Then it was his turn to receive a guard of honour of his own.

"This is the man who changed everything," the stadium announcer said as Guardiola ran onto the field wearing khakis and a cream T-shirt, with fans cheering wildly.

"Ten more years," they chanted, prompting Guardiola to shake his head in defiance.

After 17 major trophies and records galore, on Friday he confirmed he could do no more.

After turning City into the most dominant Premier League team of its generation and a champion of Europe for the first time, he said the time was right to hand over the reins.

"I will not miss it for a while. I feel deeply... it is the right decision."

Guardiola's day

Former Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca, who won the Club World Cup last year, is favourite to take over with an announcement possibly this week.

Guardiola did not confirm his replacement, but said he would call his successor to offer advice.

"Be yourself... be free with your ideas and work a lot. Everything will be fine," he said.

That is for another day. This day was about Guardiola and the chance for supporters to show their appreciation.

"He means everything to me and this club. It's absolutely brilliant what he's done for it," City fan Fred Taylor, 82, told The Associated Press.

"I can't think of another manager that's done what he's done in the 10-year period he's been here."

Guardiola joined City in the summer of 2016 and has led the Abu Dhabi-owned team to six Premier League titles and a first Champions League crown in 2023.

"That's what we always wanted that... we'd never done it. That was probably the highlight of his tenure," Taylor said.

Guardiola's trophy haul included a domestic double this season of the League Cup and the FA Cup. He led City to the treble in 2023, winning the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup - matching Manchester United's feat from more than 20 years earlier in 1999.

First to 100 points

There were other benchmarks. City became the first team to win four straight English leagues and the first to amass 100 points in a single season in 2018.

The following year City was the first team to win the domestic treble of the league, FA Cup and League Cup in the same season.

Those are big shoes to fill, but Guardiola said expectations of his successor should be realistic.

"Fans don't forget that winning the treble, doubles is exceptional. It is so difficult, this business is so complicated. That's why when you come here, you win one game, here in the Etihad - enjoy it. Celebrate it," he said.

More than just trophies, Guardiola has connected with City fans, telling them to hug him if they ever see him in the future, saying "I will need it."

"It's hard to describe, it's someone you don't actually know, but you feel like you do know," City fan Richard Wilbourn said.

"When I heard the news (he was leaving) I got a bit emotional. What he's done for the club has been absolutely unreal, and it's something that we've never seen in our lifetime. Growing up through my mid-20s to mid-30s (he's been) a massive part of my life."

City has honoured Guardiola by naming its newly developed north stand after him. He will also take up a role as global ambassador.

"I'm sad he's leaving, but I think he's leaving at the right time. He's done everything and he can't go any further in this club, but I think he's done brilliant and I wish him all the best," Taylor said.

Salah ends Liverpool career with tears

Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah said he cried "more than I did my whole life" in his final appearance for Liverpool after a nine-year spell at the club in which he broke a bunch of scoring records.

Salah was given a standing ovation and kissed the turf after being substituted in the 74th minute of the 1-1 draw with Brentford at Anfield.

After the match, the Egypt winger received a guard of honour from his Liverpool teammates and staff that he walked through in tears.

"I cried a lot, more than I did my whole life, but it's very tough to leave a place like this," Salah said.

"I also cried a bit in the training ground. I'm not really an emotional guy - you guys don't see that in the media that much. You always see me tough, aggressive. But inside, I'm like a baby."

Salah will leave Liverpool having played 442 matches, scored 257 goals and made 120 assists.

His assist for Curtis Jones against Brentford was his 93rd in the Premier League, breaking a Liverpool record he shared with club great Steven Gerrard.

Salah was the superstar name in Liverpool's greatest team in a generation, winning two Premier Leagues - one under Jurgen Klopp and another under current manager Arne Slot - and the Champions League once in a total of eight titles since joining from Roma in 2017.

Salah is third in Liverpool's all-time scorers' list, behind Ian Rush and Roger Hunt, and has won the Golden Boot - as the Premier League's top scorer - four times.

His 193 Premier League goals is the most by a Liverpool player and more than any other overseas player.

"We lived our youth here, sharing everything from the beginning until the end," Salah said in a post-match interview alongside Andy Robertson, who also is leaving after this season.

"We wouldn't even dream of what we have, but we did it for this club. We put it back where it belongs."

And his message to the players that follow him?

"Look, the club is now fighting for everything and the fans will not accept less than that. They don't care that much about the result, as long as it's sweat and you give your blood here, they will love you forever," he said.

Salah, who will play at the upcoming World Cup with Egypt, has not yet signed for another team.