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Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City Successor: Report Reveals 3-Man Shortlist

A new report has confirmed that Xabi Alonso, Enzo Maresca, or Cesc Fabregas could replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City if he leaves.

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Last updated: 04.02.2026
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City Successor

There have been growing rumours this season that Pep Guardiola might leave Manchester City after the end of the 25/26 campaign, and a new report has now apparently revealed who the City board might look at as his replacement. Pep Guardiola's time at Manchester City has been nothing less than a legendary one, and he will go down as one of the best managers the Premier League has ever seen. The former Barcelona manager has won 15 major titles with the Citizens, including 5 Premier League triumphs and a UEFA Champions League. Replacing such an iconic manager would be one of those impossible jobs for the City board, but they might have to do it once this season ends.


New bombshell reports reveal the 3 main candidates who will replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City

A new report from the the telegraph has stated that former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, and Como's Cesc Fabregas are the names in Manchester City's three-man shortlist to Replace Guardiola in case he decides to leave the club after this season. The report further adds that there is a growing belief that the Catalan coach could step away from his role at the Etihad at the end of the season, prompting Manchester City to start planning for a possible successor. Despite being under contract until 2027, the club’s recent struggles have raised questions, with City six points behind league leaders Arsenal and winning just once in their last five matches. Their latest setback saw them squander a 2–0 lead to draw with Tottenham.


What Pep Guardiola said when he renewed his Manchester City contract in 2024

The following were Pep Guardiola's words after extending his contract with City in 2024, while giving an interview for the club website:


“I felt I could not leave now, simple as that,” he said in his City Studios interview after signing the new deal.


“Don’t ask me the reason why. Maybe the four defeats were the reason why and I felt I cannot leave. I felt the club still want me or had the fact that we were together and that’s the reason why we sign.”


Guardiola on the numerous reasons for City's success:


“I think the hierarchy is so stable, the Club is so, so stable in many departments and everyone knows the quality of the players we have in this decade – nine, ten, eleven years,” he said.


“I don’t forget my first season here with the players, I had in that moment so that helped me a lot to understand the Club, the team, the Premier League and many, many things and all of them were involved.


“I didn’t have the feeling that the reason why is a specific reason – there are many reasons why we have a lot of success.”


Our opinion on Manchester City's 3-Man shortlist to Replace Pep Guardiola

If Pep Guardiola decides to leave Manchester City, then it will truly be the end of an era. City fans are going to experience the same heartbreak that Liverpool fans felt when Jurgen Klopp announced his departure 2 years ago.


Coming to the candidates in the 3-man shortlist, we feel Enzo Maresca is the most likely of the 3 to become Manchester City's next manager if Pep leaves, especially with City having already held discussions with Maresca while he was manager at Chelsea.


The job feels too big and too soon for someone like Cesc Fabregas, who's doing a great job at Como. Coming to Xabi Alonso, we feel he is destined for the Liverpool job in the Summer after the club probably end up sacking Arne Slot.

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