Pep Guardiola’s future at Manchester City has been thrown into doubt after the club were accused of 115 breaches of Premier League financial rules over a nine-year spell.
Guardiola signed a contract extension with City back in November which runs until June 2025, having previously only been contracted until this summer. The Catalan coach has been in charge of City since 2016 and is the second-longest serving boss in the Premier League, behind Liverpool ’s Jurgen Klopp.
He has been supremely successful in Manchester. But now some of that success is under scrutiny, with City accused of providing inaccurate financial information and breaches in relation to player and manager remuneration.
Although the investigation has been ongoing for four years, the bombshell news on Monday came as a “surprise” to City, who said that they would use “irrefutable evidence” to put the matter “to rest once and for all”.
They will need to do just that if they want to keep hold of Guardiola. The 52-year-old has previously stuck by his employers when questions were asked – but he also made it clear that he would quit if the allegations were proven.
"If I defend the people and the club, it's because I work with them,” he said in 2020. "When I asked about suspicions, or if our people have done something, I said to them 'If you lie to me, I am not here. I will be out'."
That is a line in the sand which throws up the possibility of Guardiola leaving City before his contract expires. But where might he go? Guardiola has already enjoyed great success with Barcelona and Bayern Munich and might fancy another challenge.
Speaking on the topic, Guardiola has made it clear that international management appeals to him. “The next step will be a national team, if the opportunity presents itself,” he said in the summer of 2021. “I must take a break after seven years (at Manchester City).
“I need to stop and look, learn from other coaches and then maybe take that path. I would like to coach in a European Championship, a Copa America, a World Cup.”
In 2018 he said: "In eight, 12, 14 years maybe it could happen. It's just a dream I have as a manager and a person. Maybe it happens, maybe it doesn't." If it does happen, here are the possible sides Guardiola could end up coaching in the near future.
Brazil
This is the most recent link with a national team. As Mirror Football reported last month, Guardiola has already rejected the chance to coach Brazil.
Guardiola’s brother and agent, Pere, was approached by Brazil legend Ronaldo to see if he was interested in succeeding Tite as Selecao head coach. He rebuffed the offer, saying he still had unfinished business with City – namely winning the Champions League – but it is an enticing prospect that he has considered before.
According to the BBC, back in 2012 when he was on a sabbatical, Guardiola let it be known that he was interested in taking the job in the build-up to the 2014 World Cup after Mano Menezes was sacked. Luiz Felipe Scolari ended up getting the job, but the mutual respect is there on both sides.
Argentina
Guardiola wants to manage at a World Cup and possibly at the Copa America. He could do so while in charge of his favourite player.
“Messi means everything in my career," Guardiola has said. "I felt what Phil Jackson could feel with Michael Jordan [at the Chicago Bulls] because I had Leo Messi. I owe Messi everything. Everything, everything, everything. He made me more competitive.”
Back in 2018, the rumours were swirling that Guardiola was being lined up for the Argentina job. AS reported that the federation would try to tempt him away from Man City by offering a $12million-a-year salary. Guardiola has reportedly told Sergio Aguero he would “love” to coach La Albiceleste.
Netherlands
Mirror Football exclusively reported in January 2022 that the KNVB (Dutch FA) have drawn up plans to convince Guardiola to follow in the footsteps of one of his idols, Johan Cruyff, by coaching the Netherlands when he leaves City.
They sounded out Guardiola before he signed a contract extension with City and wanted him to bring Total Football back to the Oranje.
Guardiola’s brother and agent, Pere, joined forces with influential Dutch agency SEG around that time, strengthening the connection between the camps.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Which job do you think Pep Guardiola would be well suited to if he were to leave Manchester City? Comment below.
Spain
“I would love it, it would be perfect,” Luis Enrique said in 2021. “Spain could not have a better national team head coach. I would like to see the team under Pep.”
It is not something Guardiola has considered. In 2018, he said: "I think that is not going to happen," but did not go into any further detail. He later told Spanish TV: "I'll never be coach of the national team because I'll never be offered the job.”
Guardiola is a proud Catalonian and his support of the state’s independence could prevent him taking the Spain national team job. It is a highly contentious political issue that might trump any sporting considerations.
England
There is a bit of history here. The Independent reported in 2013 that Guardiola requested an interview for the England manager position after Fabio Capello’s departure, but chairman David Bernstein refused to give him the time of day, because he wasn’t English.
The rumours surfaced again in 2015 and resulted in Guardiola storming out of a Bayern Munich press conference when he was asked about the prospect of replacing Roy Hodgson.
“Oh come on, I’m coach of Bayern Munich,” he said. “Many thanks and auf wiedersehen.”
Paris Saint-Germain
The only non-international job on this list. Guardiola has been a huge success in Spain, Germany and English club football, but has never worked in Europe’s other two top leagues: France and Italy.
Considering the current plight of Italian giants Juventus, France appears to be a more likely option.
Last year, during Mauricio Pochettino’s slow demise as PSG manager, L’Equipe reported that there was plenty of support for the idea of poaching Guardiola from City. The chance to work with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe is an alluring one, while a reunion with Messi is an even more tantalising prospect.
