Como manager emerges as new contender to succeed Pep Guardiola as Manchester City boss | OneFootball

Cesc Fabregas has become the latest name from the European managerial circle to emerge as a potential candidate to succeed Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

The development arrives at a time when City are deep into long-term succession planning behind the scenes – with a particular focus on the first-team squad – maintaining a broad and evolving list of candidates ahead of the Catalan’s 2027 contract expiry.

Over recent months, there have been consistent reports on the variety of coaches now being tracked by City’s hierarchy, including the monitoring of Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany and admiration for Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola. Into that expanding group now steps a familiar former Premier League and La Liga star, building a reputation in Italy.

Pep Guardiola’s influence continues to shape multiple coaching careers across Europe, and the lineage of managers associated with his tactical school has grown year on year. City officials have been open to tracking coaches who demonstrate similar attacking principles, and the latest development reflects that theme more strongly than ever.

According to the information of Corriere della Sera, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, there is belief that Como’s Cesc Fabregas will not manage another club in Italy and that it will now only be ‘Barcelona or Manchester City’ for the former Arsenal star.

The 38-year-old is described as a ‘snake charmer’ whose footballing ideology mirrors that of City tactician Pep Guardiola, and as a direct result of the Spaniard’s work, Como have gone from a newly-promoted side to being European contenders.

With Fabregas joining the list of admired coaches, City’s internal succession picture becomes even more intriguing. His work at Como 1907 – where he has implemented a positional-play-heavy structure similar to Guardiola’s approach – aligns closely with what City aim to preserve following the 54-year-old’s eventual departure.

Like Vincent Kompany at Bayern Munich, Fabregas has maintained a long-standing personal and philosophical affinity with Guardiola, dating back to their time together at FC Barcelona. Should Guardiola decide to step down in 2027, the decision on his successor will be shaped by timing, availability, and the readiness of those on City’s radar.

Cesc Fabregas’ rapid coaching rise could see him positioned as a dark-horse candidate, particularly if his progress at Como continues on its current upward trajectory, although what comes next will largely hinge on City’s appetite for risk versus continuity.

Fabregas perhaps represents the purist’s option – high-ceiling, Pep Guardiola-influenced, but still early in his managerial career. Manchester City may continue to observe him over the next few seasons, especially as they closely monitor Kompany’s development in big-game environments and Iraola’s Premier League track record.