His first season in England was a bit rocky, but since then, he's transformed Man City into a powerhouse, winning the Premier League, Champions League, and Club World Cup. Under his guidance, City became the first team to win four consecutive Premier League titles and added their first Champions League and Club World Cup trophies to their collection.
This season, they claimed another Premier League title but were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid in the quarter-finals and lost the FA Cup final to Manchester United. Despite these setbacks, Guardiola has confirmed he'll stay on for the 2024-25 season. However, with his contract running out in just over a year, rumors about his departure are growing.
Guardiola has remained tight-lipped about his future plans. According to the Daily Mail, City officials are preparing for his departure at the end of his contract. While they hope to convince him to stay longer and will give him the space to decide, there's a general feeling that he won't sign a new deal.
The club hasn't received any official word from Guardiola about his next move, but internally, there's been talk about the possibility of him leaving. Guardiola has previously expressed interest in managing a national team before retiring, and although there's been talk of him returning to Barcelona, this seems unlikely.
Finding someone to fill Guardiola's shoes is a daunting task, but City is already considering potential successors. Michel, the manager of City's sister club Girona, who recently secured a Champions League spot, is a strong candidate. Germany's Julian Nagelsmann is also on their radar, though he recently committed to a national team role until 2026 and previously declined the Liverpool job, not wanting to follow directly after Jurgen Klopp.
Other names in the mix include Roberto De Zerbi, who recently left Brighton & Hove Albion and has Guardiola's endorsement, and Xabi Alonso, whose future at Bayer Leverkusen beyond the 2024-25 season is uncertain. There's also talk of bringing back Mikel Arteta, Guardiola's former assistant and current Arsenal boss, though he's expected to negotiate a new contract with the Gunners soon.