Pep Guardiola’s Bonus System Explained by Former Man City Player

A former Manchester City player has given an insight into how the club's bonuses work under the management of Pep Guardiola.

Scott Carson spent a total of six years with City as their third-choice goalkeeper, initially joining on a loan deal from Derby County before signing permanently in 2021.

The former England international only played twice in his spell at City in a dominant spell in English football but was regularly talked about as an important figure in the dressing room and around the group.

He made his debut in a 4-2 win over Newcastle in 2021, saving a penalty - before coming on as a second-half substitute in a 0-0 draw against Sporting the following year.

Carson was at the lower-end of the City squad when it came to his pay packet and bonuses.

Carson played twice in six years for City. Image: Getty

Fresh from his recent retirement at the age of 40, the former Leeds and Liverpool shotstopper appeared on Ben Foster's Fozcast and gave an insight into the bonus structure at City.

"The call from City came and I was like, 'Champions League bonuses!' The guys obviously put the bonus and signed this schedule thing," he explained.

"My agent was like, 'Is it not every every time you win a game?'

"He said, 'No, we just pay the players when we get success'. So you only got a bonus when you win a competition.

"It wasn't till after, I had a conversation with Txiki [Begiristain], the director - we were just talking about things and I just asked him something about that.

"And he went, 'Before I came in here, players were getting this, they were paying this - even coming second'. They were paying for the accommodation and cars and he went, 'No I wasn't having that - I just wanted to give the players a bonus when they win a competition'."

Scott Carson retired from football earlier this month. Image: Getty

He added: "I think the sheet I signed would have been for the likes of myself, the fringe players and academy players. I think you had to play so many games where you got fifty per cent or whatever, all the big hitters they were obviously on personal bonus contracts.

"Just to get any bonus like that, you're buzzing because it is good. If you're signing a bonus sheet somewhere, some other club to win the Champions League, you know it's not going to happen but you know you're always within."

Pep Guardiola's bonus refusal

Carson went on to disclose the selfless gestures Guardiola did on a number of occasions concerning his hefty bonuses. One of the highest-paid managers in the world, the Catalan also had significant bonuses in his City contract for winning silverware.

When he led City to a historic treble in 2023, the six-time Premier League winner refused to accept his bonus and instead donated it to City staff, including receptionists and security personnel, to highlight their contributions.

A year later, when City claimed an unprecedented Premier League title in a row, it was reported by The Times that he surprised between 60 and 70 staff members with further bonuses.

Discussing Guardiola's gestures, Carson stated: "The players, if anything was won, would give a portion of their bonus into a pot. Pep was brilliant, he would be like, 'If we win the league, my league bonus you can all split and share it. And he did that several times, with all the staff in the building."

Carson left City upon the expiration of his contract in the summer and announced his retirement in October.