Pep Guardiola expected to leave Manchester City in 2025 – four managerial replacements mooted

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is reportedly expected to leave the Etihad Stadium at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

The 53-year-old concluded his eighth campaign in east Manchester with a disappointing 1-2 loss to local rivals Manchester United in the Emirates FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon, as the Sky Blues succumbed to a first defeat since December.

A lacklustre first-half, which saw Erik ten Hag’s side move into a two-goal lead courtesy of Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo both capitalising on defensive mistakes, prevented Manchester City from clinching a fourth trophy of the season.

Guardiola had guided Manchester City to a record-breaking fourth consecutive Premier League title last weekend, as the Catalan won his six top-flight English title in seven years with a 3-1 win over West Ham at the Etihad Stadium.

The Blues surpassed the 90-point mark and beat Arsenal to the trophy for the second successive season, as Phil Foden’s first-half brace and Rodri’s second-half strike propelled Manchester City to an eighth Premier League title.

City also lifted both the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup during the 2023/24 campaign, with Guardiola having won 17 major trophies since moving to the Etihad Stadium in 2016.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has signed three previous contract extensions with Manchester City but is out of contract in east Manchester at the end of next season, with growing uncertainty surrounding his future at the club.

Despite Etihad executives wanting Guardiola to sign a fourth contract extension, Jack Gaughan reports that the 53-year-old is expected to leave Manchester City in 2025, following the conclusion of the 2024/25 campaign.

Club officials are planning to give Guardiola ‘space to make a final decision on his future’ but ‘fear’ that next season will mark the end of the Catalan’s tenure at Manchester City.

Manchester City are therefore set to start succession planning, with Girona’s Michel, Julian Nagelsmann, Xabi Alonso and Roberto De Zerbi all reportedly mooted.

De Zerbi, who departed Brighton last week following the Seagulls’ loss to Manchester United, is ‘admired’ by Guardiola personally, meanwhile Michel has guided the Blues’ sister-club to UEFA Champions League football in Spain.

Alonso, who led Bayer Leverkusen to an invincible domestic double in Germany, is also claimed to be ‘highly thought of’ by Etihad officials.