Manchester City chiefs have supposedly resigned themselves to losing head coach Pep Guardiola when the 53-year-old’s contract expires next summer.
Guardiola, who has built a reputation as one of the best coaches on the planet during his successful stints with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, took charge of the Etihad hotseat in the summer of 2016.
Despite a slightly underwhelming first season in English football, the Spaniard has since transformed Manchester City into a dominant force in the Premier League, Europe, and on the world stage.
Under Guardiola’s leadership, Manchester City has achieved unprecedented success. The team became the first side to win four consecutive Premier League titles and also clinched their maiden honours in the Champions League and Club World Cup.
This season, City added another Premier League crown to their achievements, although their Champions League campaign ended in the quarter-finals against Real Madrid, and they faced heartbreak in the FA Cup final against Manchester United.
Despite these setbacks, Guardiola has maintained his commitment to Manchester City for the 2024-25 campaign, even as speculation about his future intensifies.
His current contract is set to expire in just over a year, and reports suggest that the club’s hierarchy is preparing for his departure.
According to the Daily Mail, City officials are keen to secure a contract renewal for Guardiola but believe he is unlikely to sign new terms.
The club has not received any official communication from Guardiola regarding his next career move, but internal discussions suggest that many within the organization are bracing for his exit.
Guardiola has expressed a desire to manage a national team before concluding his illustrious career, and although a return to Barcelona has been speculated—especially after the recent sacking of Xavi—it remains an unlikely prospect.
As Manchester City contemplates a future without Guardiola, the club has begun drawing up a list of potential successors.
Leading the shortlist is Michel, the manager of City’s sister club Girona, who achieved a surprising qualification for next year’s Champions League.
Another candidate is Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann, though his recent contract extension with the national team until 2026 and his reluctance to follow high-profile predecessors may complicate matters.
Other potential candidates include Roberto De Zerbi, who recently left Brighton & Hove Albion and has received strong endorsements from Guardiola himself.
Additionally, the future of Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen remains uncertain, and an Etihad return for Guardiola’s former assistant and current Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta, is also a possibility.
Arteta’s contract with Arsenal runs until 2025, but he is expected to engage in renewal talks with the Gunners soon.
The challenge of following in Guardiola’s footsteps is significant for any coach, given the standards he has set and the success he has brought to Manchester City.
As the club prepares for this potential transition, they face the daunting task of finding a successor capable of sustaining the level of excellence that Guardiola has established over the past eight years.
