Man City auction Guardiola whistle, incense and office chair after manager’s exit

Manchester City have put Pep Guardiola’s whistle, incense and office chair up for sale in a public auction as the club moves swiftly to draw a line under the most successful era in its history.

The Premier League champions have listed a wide array of the former manager’s personal items from his office on their official website, days after his departure at the end of the 2025-26 season was confirmed.

Guardiola, 55, chose to step down this summer after a decade in charge at the Etihad Stadium, leaving with every major trophy available during his time with City. He walked away a year before his contract expired, bringing to a close a period widely seen as one of the most dominant in modern English football.

Personal belongings under the hammer

According to details published by the club and reported by the Sun newspaper, City have opened a five-day online auction featuring a series of objects closely associated with Guardiola’s daily life at the training ground.

Items up for sale range from his famous whistle and a personal collection of incense to training gear, sets of coffee cups and various memorabilia. The desk lamp that lit his workspace and the chair from which he oversaw countless tactical meetings are also on offer.

The clear-out appears almost complete. Only the main desk, a sofa and a clothes stand have been excluded from the sale, with the rest of the room effectively emptied of the man who defined City’s modern identity.

Early bidding figures suggest strong interest from supporters keen to own a piece of club history. Offers for Guardiola’s whistle have already reached £282. Memorabilia lots have drawn even higher bids, climbing to £571, while his incense set has attracted offers of £172.

The office lamp has also proved popular, with bidding rising to £200 as fans compete to secure a tangible reminder of the Guardiola era.

Enzo Maresca handed the reins

In parallel with the auction, City have moved to shape their future on the pitch by appointing former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca as Guardiola’s successor for the 2026-27 campaign.

The Italian is no stranger to the Etihad. Maresca has previously served as one of Guardiola’s assistants in two separate spells, giving him intimate knowledge of the club’s structures, playing philosophy and many of the senior squad members.

His return has been followed by an immediate attempt to refresh the squad. Maresca has sanctioned a major signing in the summer market, bringing in Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest in a deal worth £116m.

City have also added three young prospects – Pearce Charles, Jeremy Monga and Mathis De Terte – as the club look to blend continuity with regeneration in the first season after Guardiola.

Guardiola’s next move still unclear

Speculation over Guardiola’s future has intensified since he confirmed his intention to leave Manchester.

While many expected him to take a sabbatical away from the touchline, reports during the World Cup suggested he had previously reached a verbal agreement to take over the England national team before the Football Association opted for Thomas Tuchel as Gareth Southgate’s successor. Guardiola is understood to have pulled back from the idea in the final stages of discussions.

Recent reports in Italy now claim the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach has entered serious talks with the Italian Football Federation about becoming head coach of the Azzurri.

Should an agreement be reached, it would mark his first role in international football and add another chapter to a career that is already being commemorated in Manchester – right down to the whistle and incense sticks from his now-vacated office.