With Pep Guardiola's time at Man City coming to an end, there is one standout candidate to replace him.
It is the end of an era at Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola set to leave the club this summer after a decade that transformed both City and English football. Since arriving in 2016, Guardiola has delivered unprecedented success at the Etihad Stadium, winning six Premier League titles, the club’s first Champions League trophy, multiple domestic cups and becoming the architect behind one of the most dominant periods in Premier League history.
His departure will leave a huge void both on and off the pitch. Guardiola has not only shaped City’s playing style and recruitment strategy, but also become the face of the club during an era of sustained success and scrutiny. Replacing a manager of that stature was never going to be straightforward, but City appear to have already identified potential successors as they prepare for a new chapter.
The leading contender is former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, a coach with strong ties to City after previously managing the club’s Elite Development Squad and later working as Guardiola’s assistant during their treble-winning campaign. However, names such as Vincent Kompany, Luis Enrique and Andoni Iraola have also been linked with one of the biggest jobs in world football.
Next Man City Manager Odds
| Manager | Odds |
|---|---|
| Enzo Maresca | 1/4 |
| Vincent Kompany | 3/1 |
| Luis Enrique | 6/1 |
| Andoni Iraola | 6/1 |
Who is the favourite to be next Man City Manager?
*All odds are best price with BetMGM or Virgin Bet*
Enzo Maresca – 1/4
Maresca is the clear frontrunner to replace Guardiola and it is easy to see why City are considering a familiar face. The Italian already knows the club inside out after winning Premier League 2 with City’s Under-23s before returning to work alongside Guardiola during the historic 2022-23 treble campaign.
The 46-year-old has quickly built a strong reputation in management. After guiding Leicester City back to the Premier League, he moved to Chelsea and delivered Champions League qualification while also winning the Conference League and Club World Cup. His style of football is heavily influenced by Guardiola, built around possession, positional play and controlling matches through structured build-up.
Vincent Kompany (3/1)
Vincent Kompany would be a hugely popular appointment among supporters given his legendary status at Manchester City after captaining the club to four Premier League titles. The Belgian has strengthened his managerial reputation at Bayern Munich, where his attacking football and tactical organisation have earned praise, though convincing him to leave one of Europe’s biggest clubs may prove difficult.
Luis Enrique (6/1)
Luis Enrique offers proven elite-level experience, having won major honours with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, including Champions League success. His front-foot, attacking philosophy would suit City’s current squad, while his experience managing world-class players makes him one of the strongest alternative candidates to Maresca.
Andoni Iraola (6/1)
Andoni Iraola has emerged as one of the Premier League’s brightest coaching talents after transforming Bournemouth into a highly competitive side with an aggressive pressing system and exciting style of football. While he lacks experience at Europe’s elite clubs, he has proven a top manager after leading Bournemouth into sixth place this season.
