Pep Guardiola has promised to call whoever Manchester City bring in as his successor, having taken charge of his final game at the club.

Guardiola announced last Friday that his time at City was coming to an end, with the club also confirming the Etihad's redeveloped North Stand would be renamed in his honour.

He brought the curtain down on his stellar 10-year stint at City on Sunday, bowing out with a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa after an Ollie Watkins double.

The Spaniard brought 20 trophies to the Etihad Stadium, including six Premier Leagues, while also lifting the EFL Cup and the FA Cup this term.

Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, who worked under Guardiola as an assistant at City, is reportedly the favourite to step into the dugout.

Guardiola will not be involved in the process of picking City's next boss, though that will not stop him from passing the torch.

"When the club tell me who it is, of course, I will call him," said Guardiola.

"I will tell him, 'Be yourself and the club will support you unconditionally'.

"That is the biggest compliment, or the biggest luck that all the managers who have been here have had.

"You will be protected in the bad moments more than any other club.

"Be yourself, be free, go with your ideas. Work a lot, and everything will be fine."

Guardiola has said he intends to take a long break from football and rest, though he has in the past hinted he would be interested in going into international football.

He has been linked with the vacant Italy post, following Gennaro Gattuso's exit after their failure to qualify for the World Cup.