A new crop of leaders must emerge at Manchester City | OneFootball

Since the 2025-26 season ended, Manchester City has seen a host of leadership and experience depart the club. Pep Guardiola stepped down as Manchester City’s manager. He has been replaced by Enzo Maresca. Bernardo Silva, Nathan Ake and John Stones have also departed the club. Their departures, coupled with Pep Guardiola’s, create a void in terms of leadership and experience in the City squad. Heading into the 2026-27 season, Manchester City do need a new crop of leaders to rise to the fore.

Manchester City need players to step up and become leaders.

Last season, Pep Guardiola named Bernardo Silva as the Manchester City captain with Ruben Dias, Rodri and Erling Haaland completing Manchester City’s leadership group. Of those four players, Bernardo Silva is now a Real Madrid player. There are doubts that surround the future of Rodri. Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias do look to be the standout candidates to become the next captain for Manchester City.

Outside of Haaland, Dias and Rodri, if he stays, Manchester City do need other players to step up and become leaders. It is time for other players to fill the void left behind following the loss of bonafide leaders and experienced players. Gianluigi Donnarumma looks to be a prime candidate to step up as a leader for Enzo Maresca’s side. As does Marc Guehi. Both players have been leaders throughout their careers and could make a step up in this regard for Enzo Maresca.

Josko Gvardiol and Phil Foden are two other players who have the potential to be leaders in Manchester City’s new era. Foden is now a seasoned professional and knows intimately the high standards demanded at City. Josko Gvardiol has signed a long-term contract extension and the natural progression for him is to become a leader for his team. Foden and Gvardiol are two players who seem primed to step up as leaders and hopefully other candidates will emerge during Manchester City’s preseason tour of Asia.

Final thoughts.

Manchester City do need a new crop of leaders to emerge for the 2026-27 season and beyond. The standards expected at the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders have been established by Pep Guardiola, Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Nathan Ake and the club legends that have departed before them. To carry on those standards, City will need a new batch of leaders to emerge. It is a crucial element of any team and the sooner that Manchester City’s next crop of leaders reveal themselves the better it will bw for Enzo Maresca’s side.