Manchester manager Pep Guardiola addresses his contract situation and rumours linking him with the England manager’s job.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has admitted that “anything can happen” when asked about his future and links with the England manager’s job.
England are currently searching for a permanent manager after Gareth Southgate left his role following Euro 2024 in Germany.
Interim boss Lee Carsley has not officially ruled himself out of the running, but he has admitted that the job should go to a “world-class” manager who has experience of winning trophies.
Guardiola certainly fits the bill after enjoying incredible success during his coaching career with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Man City.
Regarded as one of the best managers of all time, Guardiola has been linked with the England job partly due to his current contract situation at the Etihad Stadium.
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Guardiola responds to England links and comments on Man City future
Guardiola is out of contract at the end of the season and is yet to agree a new deal to extend his stay with the Premier League champions.
There has been a suggestion that Guardiola could leave Man City to seek a fresh challenge once his current deal expires in June.
The 53-year-old has now revealed that he is yet to decide his next steps, leaving the door open to the possibility of becoming England’s new manager.
Guardiola told Che Tempo Che Fa: “I haven’t finished my career at Manchester City yet, I still have to think about it.
“It’s not true that I’ll be the England coach. I haven’t decided anything yet, if I had decided my future at Manchester City I would say so, anything can happen in life.”
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Will Guardiola swap Man City for England?
The former Barcelona boss has won every possible trophy during his managerial career, including 12 top-flight titles and three Champions League crowns.
Having spent his whole coaching career as a club manager, Guardiola may decide the time is right to take on the challenge of international management.
Guardiola may be enticed by the prospect of leading the Three Lions into the 2026 World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico as well as Euro 2028 in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.
The Man City manager certainly has the coaching acumen to maximise the potential of England’s talented group of players.
A move into international management would also allow Guardiola to take a step away from the intensity of club management.
However, he would have to be content working with a squad in relatively short international windows rather than on a day-to-day basis.