Pep Guardiola ‘to become’ England manager under 2024 verbal agreement, Tuchel chosen instead | OneFootball

According to The Athletic, Pep Guardiola reached a verbal agreement with the FA in 2024 to become England manager, before choosing to extend his Manchester City contract.

Had that pact been enacted, he could have led the Three Lions at the 2026 World Cup. England face France in the third-place match on Saturday at 23:00.

After Guardiola renewed at City, England’s decision-makers turned to Thomas Tuchel, a Champions League winner in 2021 with Chelsea and a finalist in 2020 with Paris.

The report says it is unlikely the England manager will leave despite a 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina. Guardiola is now available, having left City this summer after 10 years and 20 trophies.

A clause in Tuchel’s contract could have prompted an exit in the event of a poor World Cup, but the run to the semi-finals would not activate it. He has two years remaining, and parting ways would be costly for the FA.

Source: L'Équipe