Football Association plot Pep Guardiola masterplan to lure coach away from Manchester City

The Football Association reportedly hold ambitious hopes of securing Pep Guardiola as their next manager, should he choose to leave his post as Manchester City boss.

The latest information emerges as there is no further clarity around the longer-term future of Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium, despite recent hopes stemming from conversations held with Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour in Abu Dhabi recently.

City’s first-team head coach is entering into the final year of his Manchester City contract, and spent some time in the Middle-East to present the club’s record-breaking fourth successive Premier League title to their ownership, along members of the organisation’s hierarchy.

With chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak in attendance, alongside sporting director Txiki Begiristain and chairman Ferran Soriano, the opportunity to discuss the future of Pep Guardiola with Sheikh Mansour in person was lined up perfectly.

However, there is a feeling in some quarters that a decision may not come until midway through the upcoming campaign, and as such that has spared some hope of an ambitious swoop from one national team set-up to secure the perfect next managerial appointment.

According to the information of the Independent’s Miguel Delaney, the Football Association would consider the idea of appointing an interim manager in order to try and coax Pep Guardiola as the next England manager, if he decides to leave Manchester City in 2025.

It is highlighted that while such a scenario would not be the FA’s first choice, the legendary Catalan tactician ‘represents such an outstanding candidate’ that it would at least bring a re-assessment if there was any chance of securing his services.

It is explained that following Gareth Southgate’s departure, the priority is for a manager who understands the culture of the national team, which Pep Guardiola ‘fits into perfectly’ having spent eight years in England and supplied so many players to the Three Lions set-up.

While there had been a feeling that it would be near-impossible to recruit Pep Guardiola, the Independent reports that there is now a feeling within Manchester City that the 53-year-old might leave at the end of the upcoming 2024/25 season.

Gareth Southgate offered and finalised his resignation as head coach of the England national team on Tuesday, following England’s defeat in the European Championships final at the hands of Spain in Berlin on Sunday night.

Goals from Nico Williams and a late strike from Mikel Oyarzabal cancelled out Cole Palmer’s sensational equaliser, and once again ended any hopes of football “coming home” despite jubilant scenes across England.

Southgate’s tenure ends after eight years in charge of the men’s senior squad, and the search for a successor will bring fresh challenges and concerns over how to replace a figure who brought such stability to the Football Association’s working environment.

Aside from Pep Guardiola, other candidates include the likes of Newcastle United’s Eddie Howe, out-of-work but highly-rated Graham Potter, as well as Lee Carsley – who impressed during his time as England under-21s head coach.