Premier League manager tipped for Manchester City job as trio of Pep Guardiola replacements identified | OneFootball

The search for a suitable replacement for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City could begin soon, as talk of an exit date for the legendary Catalan begins to emerge.

With recent reports now suggesting Guardiola may consider leaving the Etihad Stadium at the end of the ongoing season, speculation is intensifying over who could take charge of the club’s next era.

Having reached 1,000 matches in management over the weekend during the 3-0 win over Liverpool and having also spoken openly about life beyond football, the Manchester City boss is soon expected to reflect on what comes next both professionally and personally.

Manchester City will prepare for all eventualities, with senior figures keen to ensure that any future transition is smooth and aligned with the culture Pep Guardiola has spent almost a decade building and maintaining.

Stability and tactical continuity remain essential factors in the club’s long-term planning, particularly following the structural changes introduced this year with Hugo Viana’s arrival as sporting director, succeeding Txiki Begiristain in the role after 13 seasons.

The club’s leadership, including CEO Ferran Soriano and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, will likely be responsible for weighing up potential candidates who reflect the club’s commitment to attacking football, tactical sophistication, and strong developmental philosophies.

Now, according to a new report from The Times’ Paul Hirst, former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has ‘a lot of support from within the club’, although the Belgian recently signed a contract extension until 2029 at Bayern Munich.

Elsewhere, former Brighton & Hove Albion coach and now the manager of Olympique Marseille, Roberto De Zerbi has admirers too, while Pep Guardiola himself is known to be a fan of the Italian.

Unsurprisingly, the report points out the ongoing job of Andoni Iraola at AFC Bournemouth has not gone unnoticed.

While Vincent Kompany’s deep connection to Manchester City makes him a sentimental favourite, his current project at Bayern Munich could complicate any approach.

Roberto De Zerbi remains a name frequently linked to top clubs, and admiration from Guardiola adds an extra layer of intrigue to any future discussions, especially as City continue to look for a successor capable of maintaining stylistic continuity.

Andoni Iraola’s job at Bournemouth blends intensity and structure – qualities that will no doubt appeal to City’s leadership. Having impressed since arriving from Rayo Vallecano, and ending his playing career within the City Football Group at New York City FC, Iraola’s rise could yet culminate in arguably the leading position in European football at present.

Ultimately, much will depend on Pep Guardiola’s final decision. As previously reported, insiders admit an exit in 2026 could be logical, marking a decade at the helm and a natural point of transition. However, City have been in this position before, with Guardiola extending contracts at moments when departure seemed imminent.