In summary:
- Gareth Southgate’s resignation sparks the FA’s pursuit of Pep Guardiola as England manager.
- Guardiola’s potential departure from Manchester City due to the financial investigation and his interest in international management, especially Brazil, opens a window for the FA.
- Recognizing the possibility of Guardiola delaying a decision, the FA might appoint an interim manager like Lee Carsley while keeping the England job open.
If Pep Guardiola departs Manchester City in 2025, the Football Association (FA) may think about selecting an interim manager in an attempt to lure him back to England as manager.
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Guardiola is an Extraordinary Candidate
The FA believes Guardiola is an extraordinary candidate who is worth waiting for, despite not being their first choice.
Just two days after Spain defeated England in the Euro 2024 final, Gareth Southgate announced his resignation on Tuesday. This set off the FA’s long-planned exit strategy. They are currently looking for a manager who is acquainted with the culture of the national team, and Guardiola is the ideal candidate.
During his eight years in England, he made a major contribution to the growth of numerous players. It had previously looked almost impossible to persuade him to leave City for the England position.
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Manchester City now believes, nevertheless, that Guardiola may depart following the 2024–25 campaign. The Premier League’s ongoing investigation into City’s alleged financial rule violations is complicating his future. Even though the team is claiming to be innocent, Guardiola might be influenced by this circumstance.
Due to the attraction of coaching Brazil, Guardiola has demonstrated an interest in international management. To entice him, the FA may highlight breaking England’s long trophy drought. Guardiola, who considers himself to be Catalan, is not very interested in leading Spain.
One challenge is that, like in previous years, Guardiola might wait to make a decision about his future until the 2024–25 season is over. The FA might not be entirely discouraged by this uncertainty. The FA may think about appointing a temporary manager, even though they want to make a decision soon.
There is significant flexibility as the 2026 World Cup qualification begins in late March. In the event that Guardiola stays at City or rejects the position, Under-21 manager Lee Carsley may fill in for the time being. If he is successful, he may even be given a permanent position.
