Premier League manager “top of the shortlist” to replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City | OneFootball

Manchester City have reportedly quietly compiled a shortlist behind the scenes of potential replacements for Pep Guardiola, when the Catalan eventually leaves the club.

With increasing noise surrounding Guardiola’s future and insiders recently acknowledging a departure in the near future is a realistic scenario, attention is naturally turning towards succession planning at the club.

Recent reporting has emphasised that Pep Guardiola himself is weighing up life beyond management, while those within the club are preparing for the possibility that this season or next could mark the end of his decade-long era.

At the same time, City’s internal structure has shifted, with new sporting director Hugo Viana forging a strong relationship with Guardiola and playing a central role in long-term planning. City are determined to avoid instability and maintain the tactical identity that has underpinned their domestic and European success over the past nine years.

Previous updates have highlighted a growing respect for managers across Europe who mirror Manchester City’s progressive, possession-heavy approach. With figures such as Roberto De Zerbi and Vincent Kompany already noted internally, the club’s next step appears to be identifying the strongest stylistic fit for a post-Guardiola world.

According to a new report from TEAMtalk, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is Manchester City’s top target to succeed Pep Guardiola, with the club’s hierarchy having ‘quietly assembled’ a shortlist of elite coaches.

Iraola is said to be “top of the shortlist” and is viewed as the ‘perfect stylistic successor’ to Guardiola in being ‘progressive, meticulous, and unafraid of bold gambles’, while the 43-year-old is also said to be ‘fully aware’ of the overtures.

Unsurprisingly, Andoni Iraola is not alone on Manchester City’s managerial shortlist, with Bayern Munich’s Vincent Kompany said to be ‘not far behind’ on the list of those within the Etihad Stadium.

Iraola’s emergence as a leading candidate may be no surprise to many, with the Bournemouth boss having earned widespread praise for transforming the club’s playing style, showing tactical bravery, and an ability to maximise players in high-press, high-possession systems.

Meanwhile, Vincent Kompany’s continued presence on the shortlist fits previous reporting that the Belgian retains strong backing from influential figures at the Etihad Stadium. Despite signing a new long-term deal at Bayern Munich, his emotional connection to the club and commitment to attacking football ensure he remains firmly in the conversation.

As for what comes next, much depends on Pep Guardiola’s decision-making timeline. Although a departure at the end of the campaign is possible, the same predictions have been made before only for Guardiola to sign fresh terms.

If the Catalan does signal an end to his Manchester chapter, the club appear ready to act swiftly. Andoni Iraola’s rising profile, combined with City’s priority of maintaining tactical continuity, suggests he may be the frontrunner in what could become one of the defining managerial transitions in modern English football.