With the end of an era looming as Pep Guardiola reportedly prepares to depart Manchester City after a glittering decade, we take a look at the front-runners to replace him
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Pep Guardiola is expected to leave Manchester City at the end of the seasonopen image in gallery
Pep Guardiola is expected to leave Manchester City at the end of the season (PA)
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Pep Guardiola is reportedly set to leave Manchester City at the end of the current Premier League season with an announcement of his departure expected this week.
Whoever replaces him at the Etihad will have difficult shoes to fill following his glittering reign at the club.
Guardiola arrived at City in 2016 and has won 20 titles including a treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup triumphs in 2022/23 emulating Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United team from 1998/99.
The most recent trophies won by Guardiola’s side are the 2025/26 Carabao and FA Cups with City completing a domestic cup double last weekend having beaten Chelsea 1-0 in the FA Cup final at Wembley - and they could yet win yet another title with the Premier League crown still mathematically up for grabs.
After the FA Cup final, Guardiola affirmed that he still had one-year left to run on his contract with City, but rumours have grown over the last 24 hours that the Catalan will be calling time on his City career following this Sunday’s Premier League finale.
With his exit growing ever more likely, here are some of the candidates that could replace him:
Enzo Maresca
Ex-Chelsea and Leicester boss Enzo Maresca is the clear frontrunner to replace Guardiola and there are even reports circulating that he has already agreed to join the club.
Guardiola’s former assistant, the Italian is well acquainted with his management style and has long been an admirer, and played his own part in City’s treble-winning season of 2022/23, having formerly worked with the club’s academy. Guardiola himself previously called Maresca “one of the best managers in the world”.
He won promotion from the Championship with Leicester and continued that success at Chelsea, winning the Conference League and last summer’s Club World Cup with the Blues before his relationship with the ownership went sour. His somewhat acrimonious exit from Chelsea earlier this season was linked to reports of him being in talks with the City leadership over replacing Guardiola.
Enzo Maresca (right) is the current favourite to replace Guardiolaopen image in gallery
Enzo Maresca (right) is the current favourite to replace Guardiola (Getty)
Vincent Kompany
Former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany would no doubt be a popular pick to replace Guardiola. The Belgian played under him, spending 11 seasons at City, eight of which with the armband.
Since retiring as a player he returned to manage Anderlecht, where he began his playing career, before rising from manager of struggling Burnley to the top job at Bayern Munich, where his all-out attacking style has attracted widespread admiration. However, last October he extended his contract with the German giants until 2029, and he is reportedly content in Munich.
Bayern reached the Champions League semi-finals this season and won another Bundesliga title in dominant fashion.
Andoni Iraola
Andoni Iraola has announced his departure from Bournemouth this summer, where he is to be replaced by Marco Rose, but is yet to announce his own next destination.
The Spaniard spent the majority of his playing career at Athletic Bilbao and had been linked with a return to Spain, either to his former club or simply for a break from management, after a highly successful three years with the Cherries.
Vincent Kompany has enjoyed success at Bayern Munich and may be difficult to lure awayopen image in gallery
Vincent Kompany has enjoyed success at Bayern Munich and may be difficult to lure away (Reuters)
Oliver Glasner
Another Premier League manager to have already announced his departure from his current club is Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner.
The Austrian announced earlier this season that he would be leaving Selhurst Park in the summer, having overseen a rise in the club’s fortunes during his two years there including a maiden FA Cup triumph - in which they defeated Manchester City - and qualification for the Conference League. He too is without a confirmed next move.
Cesc Febregas
Having previously been discussed as a contender to replace Liam Rosenior at Chelsea, Cesc Fabregas is now in the conversation to fill Guardiola’s shoes.
The former Barcelona star, who came up through La Masia before leaving for Arsenal, ultimately returned to Camp Nou for a successful three-year spell in which he won La Liga, the Club World Cup, two Spanish Super Cups and the Copa del Rey. He idolised then-Barca captain Guardiola when coming up through the academy and would also be a popular pick to replace the City legend.
After finishing his playing career at Como in 2023 he immediately turned to management, becoming the Italian side’s permanent head coach in summer 2024 having previously coached their under-19 and B teams. He has impressed at the Serie A side, who currently sit fifth in the top-flight.