Man City manager Pep Guardiola claps
Credit: Imago
Wayne Veysey
Thu 19 March 2026 12:44, UK
Manchester City are increasingly “resigned” to the prospect of Pep Guardiola leaving at the end of the season, sources have told Football Insider.
The Spaniard is under contract until the summer of 2027, but decision-makers at the Etihad Stadium expect him to quit in the coming months.
Sources say a final decision may not have been reached but whispers in the game are growing louder that this will be Guardiola’s final season as manager of the club he has overseen for a decade.
Potential replacements are being assessed already, as Guardiola hopes to guide his team to a successful end to the season.
The Citizens remain in contention for three trophies, but were knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday night following an emphatic two-legged defeat to Real Madrid.
Man City’s next manager is already a topic of huge debate, with decision-makers facing a monumental task to replace Guardiola.
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Who could replace Pep Guardiola?
Football Insider revealed last week that Man City want Guardiola to stay, but they appear to be coming towards an acceptance that they are fighting a losing battle.
This summer will mark a decade since the Spaniard arrived in the Premier League, and his legacy is undeniable.
Pep Guardiola Man City
Wins 414
Draws 75
Losses 92
Scored 1436
Conceded 549
Man City have won the Premier League six times under the 55-year-old’s guidance, and have dominated the domestic cup competitions.
Guardiola would have hoped to lift another Champions League after ending the club’s wait for the trophy in 2023, but it will be forever be enshrined in a historic treble-winning season.
The former Barcelona manager has looked tired at times this season, and has hinted in press conferences that this season will be his last.
Conversations are already ongoing about Guardiola’s replacement, with the manager himself tipped to have a say in the choice.
The Shortlist: Potential Guardiola Successors
Candidate Current Role Tactical Fit
Enzo Maresca Unattached Positional Play
Xabi Alonso Unattached Control / Width
Luis Enrique PSG Manager High Press / Possession
Michel Girona Manager City Group Philosophy
Former Man City coach Enzo Maresca has emerged as the early favourite, but Xabi Alonso and Luis Enrique have also been mentioned as natural replacements to maintain the outgoing Spaniard’s style.
What has Guardiola said about his future?
Man City’s Carabao Cup final against Arsenal on Sunday could well be the last final Guardiola takes charge of in England.
The Citizens have drawn Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final, but will hope to make a statement at Wembley this week.
Guardiola’s side are not the force they once were, but the legendary manager’s ability to coach a win can never be understated.
“I will miss not going to Camp Nou, I’ll miss Bayern Munich – hopefully we can go through and go there – and I will miss that, when I stop and retire,” the 55-year-old said in an interview with TNT Sports this month.
“I will miss these nights because they are so special. I’ll miss Selhurst Park as well, I love it. Premier League, these stadiums.
“Champions League I will miss – but Fulham, Crystal Palace, Goodison Park – these stadiums are one of the reasons I adore England, I adore the Premier League, for these kind of- FA Cup! Against League One [teams]. I like a lot! But one day, it will be over, right?”
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