Pep Guardiola quit verdict as Man City manager replacement named | Football | Sport
Pep Guardiola continues to be linked with a move away from Manchester City. (Image: Getty)
Rumours continue to grow that Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City at the end of the season for pastures new after an unprecedented reign of success at the Etihad. At City, the 55-year-old has secured six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and the club’s first-ever Champions League title. But there are growing fears that he will walk away this summer.
It is not the first time that Guardiola’s future has been up for debate, but this time, the chatter feels different. The feeling around the league is that the Spaniard’s reign is coming to an end, with City already working out potential successors. Here, our Express Sport writers have taken a look at the possibility of Guardiola leaving and who may end up replacing the legendary boss.
Amos Murphy – Luis Enrique
After 10 wonderful years, it does feel like Guardiola’s reign as City boss is coming towards an end. There was talk that he fancied an exit last season, but such was the state of City’s squad, the Catalan coach stuck around for an extra year.
But while he’s contracted until the end of next season, there’s a growing sense that Guardiola could walk away early. If City are to enter the market for a new manager, they should look beyond the temptation of club legend Vincent Kompany, and instead go all in for Luis Enrique.
Realistically, what else is there to achieve for Enrique at Paris Saint-Germain? And having never managed in the Premier League, taking over from close friend Guardiola could present the perfect opportunity for Enrique.
Archie Griggs – Enzo Maresca
If the legendary Spaniard decides to quit City a year before the end of his contract, there would certainly be cause for concern. Nobody could begrudge the club’s greatest ever manager for stepping away on his own terms, but such a move would thrust City into a new era of uncertainty after so many years of stability and excellence.
They could benefit from appointing somebody who would bring a sense of continuity rather than upheaval, leaving Enzo Maresca as the obvious choice. It’s easy to forget that he was pretty successful at Chelsea last season and he obviously knows City well, making him the ideal candidate to lead the post-Guardiola transition.
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Luis Enrique’s future at PSG remains uncertain. (Image: Getty)
Charlie Malam – Julian Nagelsmann
Man City need a manager who adopts some of Pep Guardiola’s principles but crucially has their own ideas, so brings something a bit fresh to the table. For me, that narrows it down to three main options – Luis Enrique, Xabi Alonso and Julian Nagelsmann.
Enrique is the dream and Alonso the easiest to appoint. But if they can’t get Enrique, or if Alonso proves tricky because of his Liverpool connections and the possibility of taking over at Anfield soon, I think the progressive Nagelsmann could be a good fit. A tactical genius not too dissimilar to Guardiola, the German has his admirers at City and you can see why.
While he’s in charge of Germany for the World Cup, and says he plans to stick it out until 2028, inheriting this City squad and carrying on Guardiola’s legacy would be a hell of an opportunity for the 38-year-old. He’d be very, very tempted. Nagelsmann has said before he’s inspired by Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Ralf Rangnick (not for his spell at Manchester United!) and he could continue what Pep’s done well at the Etihad while adding his own exciting twist with a high press.
Jack McEachen – Vincent Kompany
The club legend, with Premier League managerial experience and is currently leading one of the top two teams in Europe? What more can you ask for? Vincent Kompany is proving his doubters wrong after unexpectedly being given the Bayern Munich job after he failed to keep Burnley in the top flight.
He has somehow taken Harry Kane to even greater heights than many thought was possible and taken Bayern from a club in relative turmoil to Champions League candidates. Following Guardiola will be difficult for any successor but at least Kompany will have plenty of credit in the bank at the Etihad already.
