How Pep Guardiola’s potential Manchester City departure in 2025 is impacting coaches now

The future of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola could also determine the future of other managers in the game. The Spanish coach has a contract with the English giants valid until the summer of 2025 and there are still no signs of a possible extension, and Guardiola recently spoke about the matter and said he is “closer to leaving than staying” next year. But how could this impact some managers so soon? That role at City will be a coveted one, with many promising managers likely hoping to get noticed. Here’s what to keep an eye on:

Roberto DeZerbi

Let’s start with De Zerbi, who will likely not train during the 2024-25 season if nothing surprising happens in the next few weeks. The former Brighton manager has parted ways with the English team and is now looking for a new job. While clubs that seemed interested in him, such as Bayern Munich and Liverpool, opted for other coaches, Chelsea followed suit and decided to appoint Enzo Maresca despite links to De Zerbi. That’s why he should wait to see what happens during the season, or potentially wait for the Man City spot. Guardiola always had kind words for De Zerbi and once said: “I think I admire him for the fact that no matter what team he plays for, he has proven that you don’t need to be at a top club or with exceptional top-flight players to make your team play how you like to play.” A resounding endorsement.

Michel

The current Girona coach is also someone to watch. After qualifying for a place in the Champions League next season, Michel decided to remain at the club for another season, despite multiple interests coming from many European clubs. Furthermore, Girona is a club very close to Manchester City, as it is part of the City Football Group and already works with Michel. Coaching the Premier League giants would be an incredible story for Michel, who has brought Girona from the second division to play in the Champions League for the first time in their history in less than three years. He is a rising star in the coaching ranks.

Xabi Alonso

One of the big names. The current Bayer Leverkusen coach decided to stay at the club after winning a historic Bundesliga title and a DFB Pokal trophy, and only lost the UEFA Europa League final to Atalanta. Despite links with clubs such as Liverpool and Bayern Munich, Alonso remained at the club that made him one of the most attractive managers in Europe. While links with Liverpool, Bayern and Real Madrid seem natural given his past playing football for them, Manchester City would be an option due to his relationship with Pep Guardiola, who managed him at Bayern from 2014-2016.

Mikel Arteta

The Arsenal manager is another name to consider. Arteta has always rejected chances and rumors of leaving the Gunners in recent years, but he previously worked at City from 2016 to 2019, where he was assistant coach to Guardiola. Then, in 2019, he left his position to become Arsenal’s new coach, but he could become an option for the Citizens, as he already knows the environment and has the necessary experience to get the job. It’s hard to imagine him leaving Arsenal at this point, but if there’s one thing we know, it’s that in football we never say never.