Pep Guardiola has guided Manchester City to six titles since 2017, however, with City being hit by over 100 Financial Fair Play breaches by the Premier League, Guardiola’s future at the Etihad seems a little unclear.
The former Barcelona boss kicked off the 2024/25 season in the final year of his contract following a string of cryptic comments over a possible extension as he prepares to fight those charges.
With Thomas Tuchel now taking charge of the England national team, one potential exit avenue has closed off, as Pep makes his mind up.
We know Guardiola will never be sacked by City, but a decision is incoming as City face an update on their financial breach charges in the coming months, so let’s have a look at some of the likely Next Man City Manager contenders, according to Paddy’s trusty traders.
Ruben Amorim
With Pep’s long-term pal Txiki Begiristain confirming he’s leaving City in the summer the champions have moved to reveal Sporting Lisbon’s Hugo Viana will be replacing him in the director of football role.
That announcement meant a rise in speculation over Sporting schemer Ruben Amorim coming in as Pep’s replacement.
The 39-year-old has won two titles in his homeland with Sporting but City’s rivals Man United look to have won that particular race following Erik ten Hag’s sacking.
Xabi Alonso
Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has done a brilliant job at Bayer Leverkusen, beating Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga title last season, and going unbeaten for the full league campaign.
Alonso’s stock is incredibly high and he rejected a summer move back to Anfield to keep his long-term options open.
Vincent Kompany
Vincent Kompany is a City hero and the former defender already has a statue outside the Etihad but is he the right man to replace Guardiola? Despite being relegated with Burnley last season, Kompany has managed to fall upwards in spectacular fashion, swapping Burnley for Bavaria.
The chance to lead Bayern Munich was too good to turn down and City will be keeping an eye on his progression in a top job.
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane couldn’t stop winning trophies at Real Madrid but would that translate to the Premier League? He won the Champions League three times with Real and he remains without a job.
Mikel Arteta
Guardiola’s former assistant Mikel Arteta isn’t in City’s good books at the moment after almost beating his old side to the Premier League title last season with Arsenal.
Arteta has turned the Gunners around and built a team who are genuine title contenders. The Spaniard seems to be the closest out there to Guardiola so could City line him up as the replacement?
Julian Nagelsmann
Julian Nagelsmann is just 37 years old and it seems inevitable he’ll manage in the Premier League one day.
The German impressed at RB Leipzig before being snapped up by Bayern Munich in 2021. He got sacked in bizarre circumstances and replaced by Thomas Tuchel before taking the Germany national men’s team job with his contract now extended until after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nagelsmann’s sides play expansive and entertaining football and the German is used to managing pressure at a big club.
Roberto De Zerbi
Roberto De Zerbi remains on City’s radar despite opting for a summer move to Marseille. After two Premier League seasons with Brighton, the Italian is now under contract in the south of France until 2027, but he will have no issue breaking that if City come calling.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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