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Manchester City’s long-serving manager Pep Guardiola has been a defining figure in the Premier League for the past decade, collecting numerous honours during his tenure at the Etihad Stadium.

Exactly when Guardiola will step away from Manchester City remains uncertain. Having previously ended his stints at Barcelona after four years and Bayern Munich after three, Guardiola has now exceeded expectations in terms of longevity in charge of City.

With six Premier League titles under his belt, Guardiola has reshaped Manchester City into one of football’s most dominant forces. However, the eventual end of his reign appears inevitable—and one former City player believes it might come sooner than many expect.

Wayne Bridge, who joined Manchester City from Chelsea in 2009, made just 42 Premier League appearances for the club before moving on after loan spells with West Ham United, Sunderland, and Brighton & Hove Albion. Now 45, Bridge has suggested that Guardiola’s departure from the Etihad could come with little warning.

Speaking to 10bet, Bridge said, “It kind of does feel like Pep Guardiola’s last season in charge of City, but with Pep, you can never really tell. It feels like it could be, but you just never know – maybe he’s thinking about something new for the future. He’s been managing Manchester City for almost a decade now.”

Bridge added, “I think it’s something we’ll have to watch closely throughout the rest of the season and see how things develop.”

Guardiola may be keen to sign off on a high note. Currently, City trail Premier League leaders Arsenal by nine points, and after being knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid with a 5-1 aggregate scoreline, the Spaniard still has a chance to secure domestic silverware. City are set to face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday.

Bridge continued, “He’s certainly not leaving behind a struggling team. If anything, he’s building a side that can progress even further next season with new additions and tactical tweaks. I’d love to see him stay for at least one more season to watch this group of players continue to grow and see what they achieve next year. This team is only going to improve.”

During his playing career, Bridge enjoyed success with Chelsea, winning the FA Cup and League Cup in the 2006-07 season, two years after lifting the Premier League title under Jose Mourinho. Following a challenging recovery from injury and facing intense competition for his place, he spent the latter half of Chelsea’s next title-winning campaign on loan at Fulham.