Man City finalizes successor to Pep Guardiola

The future of coach Pep Guardiola at Manchester City has become a hot topic in European football, with rumors suggesting this season might be the final chapter for the Spanish tactician at the Etihad Stadium.

In this context, Man City's management is reportedly beginning to develop succession plans, with the most surprising name on the list being Chelsea's coach Enzo Maresca.

Pep Guardiola has been with Man City for nearly a decade and has become the most successful manager in the club’s history. Under his leadership, the Manchester blue team has won 6 league titles Premier League, 2 FA Cups, 4 League Cups, and notably the club’s first Champions League title, completing a historic treble in the 2022–2023 season. However, after many years of continuous work under immense pressure, the possibility of Guardiola seeking new challenges or taking a break is causing concern among Man City’s top officials.

According to English media sources, there is a growing sense within Man City that Pep Guardiola might step down as head coach after this season, despite having recently extended his contract until 2027. Therefore, the Etihad club has already started preparing for the post-Guardiola era, prioritizing coaches who embrace a ball-control philosophy and have a deep understanding of the club.

Enzo Maresca has emerged as a strong candidate. The Italian strategist is no stranger to Man City, having worked there in two phases, first as youth coach and later as a key assistant to Pep Guardiola. Maresca is highly regarded for his modern tactical thinking, ability to build proactive ball-control play, and a coaching style strongly influenced by Guardiola.

After leaving Man City, Maresca managed Leicester and made a significant impact by helping the club earn promotion to the Premier League. He then took over Chelsea amid a turbulent rebuilding phase for the London club. Despite some controversies, Maresca helped Chelsea win the Europa Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup, partially proving his capability at the highest level of management.

However, Maresca’s future at Chelsea is now raising serious questions. Some of his recent statements reportedly caused unrest within the club, casting doubt on his long-term commitment to Stamford Bridge. In this situation, the prospect of Maresca returning to Man City, this time as head coach, is becoming less far-fetched.

Still, this move is unlikely to be straightforward. Maresca remains under contract with Chelsea until 2029, with an extension clause, and the London club would be reluctant to let their coach join a direct Premier League rival. Nevertheless, if Pep Guardiola does depart, Man City could pull off a major surprise in the English football coaching scene.