S Poddar
The departure of Gareth Southgate as England manager has thrown the hunt for his successor wide open. While the Football Association (FA) is eager to fill the role quickly, a surprising name has emerged as a potential target: Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola, the current manager of Manchester City, is widely considered one of the best coaches in the world. However, he remains under contract with City and hasn’t historically shown interest in the England job. But with rumors swirling about his potential departure from the club in 2025, the FA is willing to consider an interim manager if it means a chance to land Guardiola.
Southgate’s resignation, announced just days after Euro 2024’s heartbreaking final loss, activated the FA’s contingency plan. Their ideal candidate understands the English national team’s culture, a quality Guardiola perfectly embodies. He has spent eight years in England, shaping countless players who now wear the Three Lions shirt.
While Guardiola has always been a dream choice, the FA previously believed he was unavailable. However, recent developments at Manchester City, including the ongoing financial investigation, have cast doubt on his future. While City maintains their innocence, the situation might prompt a change of heart from Guardiola.
Interestingly, Guardiola has expressed past interest in international management, though his dream was to coach Brazil. However, he doesn’t hold the same desire for the Spanish national team due to his Catalan identity. The FA could exploit this by emphasizing the chance to end England’s trophy drought, a significant motivator.
A potential roadblock exists: Guardiola’s history of making late decisions about his future. He might wait until the end of the 2024-25 season before making a call. While this isn’t ideal, the FA can work around it. With World Cup qualifiers not starting until March 2026, appointing an interim manager like Lee Carsley, the current U-21s boss, is a viable option. Carsley’s performance could even pave the way for a permanent role if Guardiola decides against leaving City or the England job.
The FA’s pursuit of Guardiola represents a gamble, but potentially a rewarding one. Only time will tell if they’ll need to cash in their chips on an interim manager, or if they can snag the coveted coach and usher in a new era for English football.
