Manchester City decide on Pep Guardiola replacement
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Image Credits: Imago ImagesPep Guardiola is reportedly set to leave Manchester City after Sunday’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa, although the club insist he remains under contract for next season and hope he stays.Behind the scenes, preparations for an eventual exit are said to be underway, with staff and some players expecting his tenure to end after the final game of the season.The club are also understood to be planning how best to honour his decade-long spell in charge. He then made a hasty exit and added: “Have a lovely evening,”Manchester City’s search for a successor is already taking shape, with former assistant Enzo Maresca emerging as a leading candidate.According to The Athletic, former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is expected to replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Maresca, who left Chelsea in January, is now being lined up to take charge at City.Manchester City have two games remaining – against Bournemouth and Aston Villa – which could mark the end of Guardiola’s celebrated reign.The final home match against Villa on May 24 could also be decisive in the title race, with City aiming to overturn a two-point gap to leaders Arsenal. Guardiola’s contract was previously due to run until June 2027, having signed fresh terms in November 2024.Pep Guardiola previously managed Barcelona for four years and Bayern Munich for three before taking charge of Manchester City in 2016.Enzo Maresca previously worked at City, leading the Under-21s in the 2020-21 season before returning as a first-team assistant to Guardiola in 2022.
The 46-year-old joined Chelsea in the summer of 2024 after guiding Leicester City to promotion from the Championship.He led Chelsea to Champions League qualification and won both the Conference League and Club World Cup in his debut season.Maresca left the west London club on January 1 despite having a contract until 2029. Enzo Maresca Manchester City Pep Guardiola