Txiki Begiristain to return to Manchester City as guest for derby with United
Former City director, credited with key signings and Pep Guardiola appointment, will split time between San Sebastián, Barcelona and the Etihad and praises successor Hugo Viana
Txiki Begiristain will return to Manchester City this weekend as a club guest for Sunday’s Manchester derby, his first visit to the Etihad since stepping down as the club’s director of football.
Begiristain, who spent 13 years overseeing an unprecedented period of success at City and played a central role in the appointment of Pep Guardiola and a number of high-profile signings, will have an open-ended invitation to attend matches. Club officials confirmed the arrangement ahead of the weekend fixture against Manchester United.
City appointed former Newcastle midfielder Hugo Viana as Begiristain’s full-time successor this summer after Begiristain’s departure. Begiristain praised Viana’s approach, saying the new director shares his criteria and vision for player recruitment. “Hugo has been a top selection,” Begiristain said. “I would say that he is quite close to what I feel I am. He is so calm but he is also very decisive.”
City’s recruitment this summer included six new players, among them goalkeepers Gianluigi Donnarumma and James Trafford. Begiristain said he has seen Viana’s decision-making in recent months and expressed confidence in the club’s future direction. “The decisions on players – I think we are in top hands,” he said.
Begiristain, 61, has moved back to his native San Sebastián and plans to divide his time between watching Real Sociedad, Barcelona and Manchester City fixtures. He said he will be selective about the matches he attends. “Sociedad is where I grew up, second one is Barcelona of course and then it’s going to be City,” he said. “I’ll see how I feel watching. I’m going to choose the right ones and just enjoy watching football. I’ve been watching the best football in the world – both at Barcelona and Manchester City so I’ll choose only the good games.”
Asked about life back in Spain, Begiristain spoke warmly of Manchester and the city’s character, countering critics who paint a negative picture. “We love Manchester. People talk badly about the city before you go but once you come it’s such a pleasure. The city centre is quite small – everything is there. I lived in Barcelona and London but people in Manchester what you see is what you are and that’s what I like,” he said.
Begiristain’s return as a guest marks a symbolic moment for a club that underwent substantial change during his tenure and the subsequent recruitment cycle. City fans are likely to see him at further matches while he balances time across Spain and England, though the club has not specified how frequently he will attend games.
The derby on Sunday will be the first occasion for many supporters to see Begiristain back at the Etihad since his departure, offering a reminder of his role in shaping Manchester City’s recent history and the handover to a new recruitment team under Viana.