Pep Guardiola replacement latest: Who is the favourite to become the next Manchester City manager? | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca remains the favourite candidate to replace Pep Guardiola should the latter leave Manchester City as manager this summer, as per a new report.

Speculation surrounding the Etihad Stadium dugout continues to reach a fever pitch as the 2025/26 campaign enters its final month, and the focus remains very much on the on-field matters given what continues to be at stake for Manchester City.

Despite Pep Guardiola’s contract currently running until June 2027, a sense of ‘end of an era’ has permeated the club following the confirmed departures of long-serving icons Bernardo Silva, and a pending statement concerning John Stones summer exit.

While Manchester City have recently reclaimed their spot at the top of the Premier League after a gritty win at Burnley, the focus behind the scenes has seemingly shifted toward contingency planning.

Former assistant is Man City’s Plan A in Pep replacement hunt

As reported by The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg, Enzo Maresca is the leading candidate to take over at the Etihad Stadium should Pep Guardiola call time on his Manchester City managerial spell at the end of this season.

It is believed that encouraging talks have been held to install the former Manchester City assistant as Guardiola’s replacement, with the latter set to make a firm decision on his plans for next season at the end of May.

However, a possible caveat in City’s desire of recruiting Maresca is that the Italian was relieved of his duties as Chelsea manager with three-and-a-half years remaining on his contract – with the option of another year – amid a belief that he could be contractually tied to his former bosses at Stamford Bridge.

The timeline for Pep Guardiola’s final decision

Enzo Maresca’s candidacy is perhaps linked to the Italian’s deep understanding of the City Football Academy, having served as Pep Guardiola’s right-hand man during the historic 2022/23 Treble season.

Familiarity with the project, Guardiola’s methods, and the wider organisation is likely to make Maresca the standout choice for a club desperate to avoid a post-Sir Alex Ferguson style decline witnessed at Manchester United.

And as supporters continue to await Guardiola’s verdict, other names continue to circulate, including Bayern Munich’s Vincent Kompany and out-of-work, former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid head coach, Xabi Alonso.

However, with Maresca also currently unattached and boasting a style that mirrors Pep Guardiola’s possession-based philosophy, the path for the Italian’s return to Manchester seems increasingly clear.