Txiki Begiristain, the former Manchester City chief, has officially stepped down from his influential role after an extraordinary 13-year tenure, leaving behind a legacy of unprecedented success. To mark his departure, the club presented him with a lavish parting gift: a £280,000 Bentley Continental GT, specially customized in City’s iconic sky blue color.

Begiristain, 61, who concluded his duties in July, has been succeeded by Hugo Viana. His time at the helm coincided with Manchester City’s most dominant era, during which the men’s team secured a remarkable 21 major trophies. This impressive haul includes six of the last seven Premier League titles, two FA Cups, six League Cups, a UEFA Champions League, a UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup. Under his guidance, City also earned the prestigious Ballon d’Or Club of the Year title twice, in both 2022 and 2023.

The luxury Bentley, a symbol of the club's appreciation, was gifted to the much-loved Spaniard last Saturday during a special ceremony held at the Etihad Campus training complex in Manchester. The vehicle has been fitted with Spanish license plates and is left-hand drive, enabling Txiki to comfortably drive it upon his return to his native Spain. A top-end Continental GT is known for its formidable performance, boasting a V8 engine with 771 bhp, a top speed of 208 mph, and the ability to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 3.1 seconds.

Beyond the car, Manchester City also commissioned a unique photo shoot featuring Txiki alongside all 21 major men’s trophies, complemented by key Academy and Ballon d’Or silverware, celebrating his comprehensive contributions. His departure was further acknowledged prior to the Manchester derby at the Etihad the following Sunday, a match where City triumphed over Manchester United with a decisive 3-0 victory.

Begiristain joined the Citizens in 2012 and played a pivotal role in shaping the club's modern success. He was instrumental in bringing Pep Guardiola to the club as manager four years later, a move that solidified City’s position as a dominant force in English football. Their professional relationship spans back to their days as teammates at Barcelona and with the Spain national side. As Barcelona’s director of football, Begiristain had previously influenced Guardiola’s appointment as manager there in 2008. Guardiola has consistently praised Begiristain for his exceptional work behind the scenes, particularly with City’s recruitment strategy.

With Txiki, Guardiola, and chief executive Ferran Soriano working in close tandem, Manchester City has enjoyed a decade of unparalleled success. As Begiristain moves on, the focus now shifts to Guardiola's future, who signed his most recent contract extension in November last year and has hinted at the possibility of staying beyond his current deal’s expiry in 2027.