Pep Guardiola and wife Cristina Serra split up after 30 years together | Football

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Pep Guardiola and his wife Serra Cristina have ended their relationship according to reports in Spain (Picture: Getty)

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and his wife Cristina Serra have ended their 30-year relationship.

The couple, who married back in 2014, have three children together, are understood to be on amicable terms, according to Spanish outlet Sport.

Serra moved back to Barcelona five years ago with daughter Valentina, while Guardiola remained in Manchester.

Despite living in separate cities, the couple were able to maintain their marriage up until December when it is said the decision to part ways was made.

Serra, 52, opted to leave Manchester back in 2019 to play a role in helping to run the fashion company owned by her family, Serra Claret.

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The couple were able to maintain a long-distance relationship, as they had done shortly after they began dating back in 1994 when Pep was still playing for Barcelona.

It had been anticipated that Guardiola would leave City after nine trophy-laden years in the summer but the 53-year-old ended speculation surrounding his future by signing a new two-year contract extension back in November.

FC Bayern Muenchen Attend Oktoberfest 2015
Cristina Serra lived with Pep Guardiola in Munich while the football legend was coaching Bayern (Picture: Getty)
FC Internazionale v Manchester City FC - UEFA Champions League Final 2022/23
Cristina Serra was in Turkey to help celebrate Pep Guardiola masterminding Manchester City’s first ever Champions League triumph (Picture: Getty)

Despite clarifying his intention to remain with the English champions, Guardiola has endured a torrid few months.

City’s form deteriorated at the back end of last year to such an extent that hopes of winning a fifth successive Premier League title have virtually evaoprated.

Indeed, heading into gameweek 20, City are currently 12 points behind leaders Liverpool who have played one less fixture.

City have looked more like themselves in recent weeks, stringing together three successive wins, but a run of just one victory in 13 matches in all competitions between late October and Boxing Day took its toll on their beleaguered manager.

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FC Internazionale v Manchester City FC - UEFA Champions League Final 2022/23
Pep Guardiola and his wife have three children together (Picture: Getty)

Indeed, Guardiola issued a statement in November after he sparked concern over his mental wellbeing following a 3-3 draw against Feyenoord in the Champions League.

Having thrown away a three-goal lead and conceding an injury-time equaliser, the former Bayern Munich boss appeared in his post match interview sporting a cut on his nose, while several scratch marks were visible on the top of his head.

‘With my finger, yeah, with my nail,’ Guardiola said during his press conference before mimicking the scrape along his nose which caused the wound.

epa11742770 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester City and Feyenoord in Manchester, Britain, 26 November 2024. EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN
Pep Guardiola joked about self-harming after Man City’s 3-3 draw with Feyenoord in November (Credits: EPA)

Guardiola then added with a smile: ‘I want to harm myself, yeah.’

After receiving criticism for his comments, Guardiola apologised for‘making light of the very serious issues of self harm’.

‘I was caught off guard with a question at the end of a press conference last night about a scratch which had appeared on my face and explained that a sharp fingernail had accidentally caused this,’ he said.

Over the weekend, meanwhile, Guardiola was filmed having an awkward altercation with a group of autograph hunters who were told in no uncertain terms to ‘go back to school’.

‘Don’t come again, I won’t tell you again, I know your faces.

‘Go to school and prepare yourself guys. You are young guys so don’t be here, wasting time,’ Guardiola told the awkwardly-stood trophy hunters clutching replica shirts.

‘Do you want to live your life doing this honestly,’ he added. A despondent individual could be heard quietly replying ‘No, I used to be a chef’ while the six-time Premier League winning manager continued his rant.

Guardiola continued: ‘Let’s continue to do it. Prepare better. F***ing hell man, this isn’t for all the people this is for you.

‘What are your dreams? Tell me, what is it? Where do you dream my friend? Practice, f***ing hell, practice.’

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