Manchester City face managerial uncertainty with Pep Guardiola's future still undecided ahead of summer 2026.
The football world is buzzing with rumors that Pep Guardiola might leave Manchester City this summer, with former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca emerging as the leading figure to replace him. While the club has not made any official announcement about Guardiola’s immediate plans, the Premier League title race and FA Cup final add urgency to the situation. Even though Guardiola has not hinted at leaving, reports suggest a decision on his future will likely come around or after the season ends, with many believing this could be the final chapter of his trophy-filled tenure in Manchester.
Manchester City are already preparing for life without Guardiola, making strategic changes both on and off the pitch. The club has brought in new players while key figures like Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, and Ederson have departed. In the executive suite, long-serving sporting director Txiki Begiristain has stepped aside, handing control to Hugo Viana. Despite the uncertainty, the January transfer window showed City maintaining their transfer-market strength, signing Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi for a combined £84 million.
Guardiola signed a two-year contract in late 2024, which initially eased fears of an immediate departure. However, the industry remains rife with speculation, though the club insists these talks are unfounded. Guardiola has repeatedly expressed his love for Manchester City, but the lingering uncertainty suggests his time at the club may be drawing to a close. A final decision on his future is expected either near the season’s end or shortly afterward.
If Guardiola does leave, Enzo Maresca is the frontrunner to take over at Manchester City. His impressive coaching record includes leading Leicester to Premier League promotion in 2024 and securing Champions League qualification with Chelsea in his first full season. Maresca has deep ties to City, having worked in their academy in 2020 and later joining Guardiola’s staff in 2022, where he helped win the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup in 2023. His representation by top agent Jorge Mendes, who has a strong relationship with Viana, further strengthens his candidacy.
Alongside Maresca, Manchester City are considering other potential managerial candidates. Vincent Kompany, a club legend who captained the team during Guardiola’s tenure, remains a respected figure, but his recent contract extension at Bayern Munich suggests he is committed to his current role. Xabi Alonso, currently without a job, and Como manager Cesc Fàbregas, known for his tactical acumen, are also viewed as strong contenders.
Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi signed long-term deals with Manchester City in January, knowing they would likely spend most of their contracts under a manager other than Guardiola. Both players had offers from top Premier League clubs, with Semenyo turning down lucrative bids from Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham. Despite rival clubs suggesting City’s success might decline post-Guardiola, the duo were swayed by City’s competitive pitch, which emphasized Champions League football, a world-class squad and ambitious infrastructure.
Manchester City can no longer rely solely on Guardiola’s reputation to attract players, as rival executives have used the managerial uncertainty to persuade targets against joining the club. However, Semenyo and Guehi’s signings prove City’s recruitment machine is not dependent on Guardiola’s presence. The club’s ability to offer top-tier facilities, competitive wages and a commitment to maintaining a title-winning squad played a crucial role in their decisions.
Manchester City’s prolonged legal battle over 115 charges related to alleged Premier League financial rule breaches continues to cast a shadow over the club. While the outcome remains uncertain, the club’s recent rebuilding efforts suggest they are not preparing for the worst-case scenario. Regardless of the legal outcome, City are determined to build a sustainable football operation that thrives beyond Guardiola’s tenure.
Despite changes in the executive team, Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak remains the club’s ultimate decision-maker. No major decisions are made without his input, and he will play a central role in selecting Guardiola’s successor. Hugo Viana, who took over from Begiristain, will lead the search, a task that will be his most significant challenge since joining the club.
Hugo Viana, who succeeded Txiki Begiristain, is now fully in charge of Manchester City’s transfer strategy. Begiristain’s six-month handover period helped ease the transition, ensuring Viana could hit the ground running. His track record in Lisbon, where he helped transform Sporting into a European force, has impressed both insiders and agents, who describe him as diligent, structured and straightforward in negotiations.