By Federico Calabrese
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Manchester City is one of the most powerful clubs in European football — thanks to vision, long-term planning, and major financial investment. At the heart of this success is the work of Txiki Begiristain, one of the most influential directors in modern football, who has transformed the way the Citizens operate.
Who is Txiki Begiristain?
Aitor “Txiki” Begiristain, born in 1964, has overseen Manchester City’s sporting and organizational vision since 2012, when he was appointed Director of Football. He was brought in by Ferran Soriano, with whom he had worked previously, with a clear objective: to turn an average English club into a true European powerhouse. A decade later, mission accomplished.
How he transformed Manchester City
From the youth academy to the first team, Begiristain has raised the technical level across the board — through both a robust global scouting network and major investments in high-potential players. He also introduced a data-driven scouting approach and helped design the City Football Group’s organizational structure.
Key Transfers and Financial Strategy
Some of the most impactful signings under his leadership include Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Ederson, and Erling Haaland. While City has spent heavily, it has also reaped rewards: young talents like Phil Foden have emerged from the club’s academy, and the club has earned around €700 million from selling surplus players.
Since Begiristain’s arrival, Manchester City has won 6 Premier League titles, 2 FA Cups, 1 Champions League, and 4 EFL Cups, with a win rate of nearly 70% per season. One of his key principles? “Buy less, but buy right” — no more than five players per transfer window, with targeted signings aimed at fixing specific weaknesses in Pep Guardiola’s squad.
The Wider Vision: The City Football Group
Begiristain also plays a key role across the City Football Group (CFG), which includes clubs such as Palermo, Girona, Troyes, Lommel, and New York City FC.
His future remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: Txiki Begiristain has revolutionized Manchester City’s model — in every sense.
By Federico Calabrese
