Guardiola recently hinted that his tenure as Manchester City manager could be coming to an end soon, commenting that the club should start looking for his successor. However, there is no timetable for the Spaniard to leave and is expected to stay for at least one more season thereafter.
Guardiola is currently the longest-serving manager in the Premier League, having played for Manchester City for nearly 10 years. When he leaves, City may experience a similar predicament to Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson left the club.
advertise
Manchester City are currently chasing another title
Fans will not be happy to hear that the Guardiola era is coming to an end. The legendary manager has won six Premier League titles and is seeking a seventh. According to the latest Premier League title odds, Manchester City are 11/4 to win as of this writing and beating Arsenal will be a challenge.
In fact, the Gunners are 1/4 to top the table this season, with the north London side riding high under Mikel Arteta. Guardiola’s former substitute is already six points ahead of his mentor after 20 games, meaning the title race will be fierce and could go down to the wire.
Manchester City have also achieved better results in the Champions League so far this season, losing only one of their first six games. The English giants are likely to win both games, which would mark the perfect time for Guardiola to leave. However, the possibility of the head coach leaving at the end of this season remains slim.
advertise
Guardiola hints at his departure
Guardiola’s tenure at Manchester City is his longest at the club, having coached Barcelona and Bayern Munich before taking charge of the Premier League side. Although he is currently the longest-serving manager in the league, he has not surpassed David Moyes’ 11-year tenure at Everton, nor the incredibly long careers of Ferguson or Wenger.
The 54-year-old is clearly concerned that his departure could have a similar knock-on effect to that seen when Ferguson stepped down from Manchester United in 2013. In the years since, the Red Devils have failed to win the league and have had 10 managers. City may find out how difficult it is to replace a legend like Guardiola, with few managers in the world having the same level of sustained success.
advertise
Manchester City fans don’t want to think about life without Guardiola, but they may soon need to face reality. However, the iconic head coach is likely to stick around for a few more seasons and even help with the transition to his successor. That could ensure City don’t suffer the same plight as their Manchester neighbors.
