David Silva tips Pep Guardiola for international job as Manchester City await 115 charges verdict | OneFootball

Manchester City and Spain legend David Silva has tipped Pep Guardiola to consider the Spain Men’s National Team managerial position for his next managerial venture.

Silva is one of City’s decorated footballers and is widely regarded as the greatest imports in the Premier League, having spent a trophy-laden decade at the Etihad Stadium under Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini and Pep Guardiola between 2010-20.

The 39-year-old bid farewell to the Blues five years ago and alongside Sergio Aguero, Silva was not part of the Manchester City side that went on to achieve UEFA Champions League glory in Istanbul in 2023; nonetheless, Silva represents the best of City in their early years of glory after the club’s Abu Dhabi takeover in 2008.

Silva made 436 appearances in all competitions for Manchester City, scoring 77 times and providing 136 assists to register himself as an all-time Etihad Stadium great and a pioneer in revolutionising the blue side of Manchester during a pivotal period of transition for the club.

Guardiola has not been shy in his praise for Silva after working with the Gran Canaria-born magician for four seasons at City, rating the little magician as one of the finest players he has had the pleasure of working with.

The Catalan has publicly admitted to attempting to sign Silva from Valencia whilst he was Barcelona manager, underlying how highly Guardiola rated the 39-year-old long before their paths would intersect in north-west England.

Much has been made on Guardiola’s future at Manchester City in the last 12 months, with City undergoing their most challenging season in a decade last term – finishing third in the Premier League with 71 points, exiting the UEFA Champions League at the Round of 16 stage and losing the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace.

Guardiola signed a new deal in the fall of 2024 that will keep the 54-year-old at the Etihad Stadium till the end of the 2026-27 season, though the Catalan has hinted in interviews over the summer that he could sign a two-year extension beyond 2027.

Speaking in a recent interview, Silva has given his two cents on where he’d like to see Guardiola manage in the future and while the former Manchester City midfielder has allegiances to the blue side of Manchester, he is tipping his former manager to think about his international career when he moves on from the Etihad Stadium.

“I’d like to see him (Guardiola) as Spain’s manager,” Silva said, as quoted by Mirror Sport. “Luis de la Fuente is doing a phenomenal job now, but it would be good to have Pep in the future.

“He could bring a style of football based on good ball control and always going out to win games. A bit like the philosophy of the current Spanish national team.”

It remains to be seen how officials at the Etihad Stadium – led by newly-appointed director of football Hugo Viana – approach contract talks with Guardiola as he gets closer to the expiration of his current deal – and there is little doubt that a decision will hinge largely on how Guardiola and co fare in the ongoing and 2026-27 seasons.