If there’s anything we’ve learned about Pep Guardiola over the years, it’s that he’s used to winning. The same can be said about his former Barcelona player, and now Inter Miami star, Lionel Messi.
With [Guardiola reportedly leaving Manchester City this summer](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6269334/2026/05/18/pep-guardiola-manchester-city-manager-maresca/), could a reunion in Florida with the reigning MLS Cup champions be in the works if he immediately looks for his next adventure?
Guardiola left Barcelona as a player before Messi broke onto the scene, but coached the club from 2008 to 2012, winning three La Liga titles, two Champions Leagues and a pair of Club World Cups, among other accolades. Three successful seasons at Bayern Munich followed, before a decade at Manchester City where the Citizens dominated English football and won 20 total trophies, including the FA Cup on the weekend with a win over Chelsea.
He could add one more still if Manchester City can topple Arsenal for the Premier League title at the final stage of the season.
Inter Miami have always swung for the fences with their player and managerial recruitment, and Guardiola could conquer a new continent — and get paid handsomely to do so. It feels inevitable that some major stars could move to MLS after a North America-hosted World Cup, so why not one of the game’s greatest-ever coaches?
Phil Neville, Gerardo Martino and Javier Mascherano are all among the club’s coaches in recent seasons. The Guardiola speculation isn’t for nothing, as [Miami is looking for a new head coach after parting ways with Mascherano in April](https://wakingthered.com/2026/04/14/23178/javier-mascherano-parts-ways-with-dayne-st-clairs-inter-miami/). The Argentinian legend, also a former Barcelona player, left the club citing personal reasons.
No offence to the fine people of Orlando, Montreal, Austin or Columbus — who are also looking for new managers at the moment — but if Guardiola is going to come stateside, it’ll almost certainly be one of the big market teams. New York City FC would have made sense given the City Football Group links, or any of the other big market teams like the Los Angeles clubs or Miami.
Guardiola has never managed a national team, and several opportunities usually pop up after each World Cup, which could present him with some major opportunities as well if his preference is to go down that route.
_Where do you think Guardiola will end up? Is MLS a realistic option?_