The Ravdin Report. Weekly thoughts on sports, life, and culture
Manchester City has been one of the best clubs in the world under the leadership of head coach Pep Guardiola. The Spaniard has led the Citizens to several historic moments in his charge. Pep Guardiola took charge of Man City in July 2016 after the departure of Manuel Pellegrini. Manchester City has been a dominant force in the English Premier League under his charge.
There is no doubt that Guardiola has been City’s best manager and signing. The Spaniard has won 6 English Premier League trophies, 1 UEFA Champions League, 4 Carabao Cups, 2 FA Cups, 2 Community Shields, 1 UEFA Super Cup, and 1 FIFA Club World Cup.
Manchester City’s triumph under Pep’s leadership has come with an attractive and entertaining style of play—a thing City fans are proud of. Pep’s emphasis on dominance and making the opposition suffer for 90 minutes has transformed the mentality of the team into one of champions.
Despite the media’s publication of the 115 Premier League charges against Manchester City, the players never allowed that to reflect on the pitch. Guardiola’s contract currently runs till the summer of 2025. With recent news flying all over the media about his possible exit in 2025—something that will undoubtedly leave many City fans heartbroken—we’re going to review a list of potential coaches to replace him based on the next Man City manager odds.
Roberto De Zerbi has enjoyed a successful spell at Brighton & Hove Albion since he took over in September 2022. The Italian imposed a high-pressing and possession-based tactical play—a style that saw his side record several impressive results against the big teams in EPL.
De Zerbi’s mutual agreement with Brighton to leave the club at the end of the 2023/24 season after almost two years makes him a possible target for City come 2025.
While recent news records that De Zerbi has agreed to a three-year deal to become the manager of Ligue 1 side Marseille, there would still be much to talk about should Guardiola leave in 2025, especially with De Zerbi’s 4/1 odds as the next Man City manager.
🚨 Pep Guardiola told three Brighton players after Man City's fixture at the Amex last season:
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) October 20, 2023
“That’s the next Man City manager,†and nodded in the direction of Roberto De Zerbi.
(Source: @TelegraphDucker) pic.twitter.com/XZ03aSzVoY
Herrero Michel has a revelatory season with his Girona team, giving both Spanish Heavyweights Real Madrid and Barcelona a scare in the just-concluded 2023/24 La Liga season.
Michel’s Girona defeated Barcelona home and away for the first time in the club’s history, finishing third in the league table. This feat came with an attractive attacking playing style.
Michel’s achievement with Girona hasn’t gone under the radar, as he could be a potential replacement for Guardiola should the Spaniard leave in 2025. With his next Manchester City manager odds of 4/1, nothing can be ruled out.
Grande Michel Herrero... pic.twitter.com/tt9dxsQwyo
— Andrés Agreda Bosch💯💗 (@Andresagreda77) April 28, 2024
Not many expected Xabi Alonso’s historic season with Bayer Leverkusen. The Spaniard was a revelation for Leverkusen in the 2023/24 season, winning the Bundesliga undefeated—a feat even heavyweight Bayern Munich has never achieved.
The 42-year-old Spaniard’s style of play is highly attacking, with emphasis on a fast-paced approach both with and without the ball. Considering that Manchester City is a team known for its attacking prowess, Xabi Alonso perfectly fits the role.
There were a lot of speculations linking the Spaniard to the Bayern Munich and Liverpool job at the end of the 2023/24 season. However, his decision to stay put for, at least, one more season, leaves the door open for possible consideration should Guardiola leave City in 2025.
🚨🚨| JUST IN: Manchester City want Xabi Alonso as their NEW coach if Pep Guardiola doesn't renew.
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) April 20, 2024
Real Madrid are interested as well.
[@diarioas] pic.twitter.com/MTBbjcX3rZ
Here is another title-winning manager with a very attractive playing style. Ruben Amorim was heavily linked to the Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, and even Manchester United job.
Considering his successful spell at Sporting Lisbon, there is no surprise that he’s on the list of potential Pep Guardiola replacements should the Spaniard leave in 2025.
Ruben Amorim’s Man City’s next manager odds currently stand at 10/1. Who knows what the future holds for the 39-year-old Portuguese coach? Should he be considered for the Man City job, his dream of coaching in the EPL could finally be achieved.
Guillem Balague:
— Transfer Sector (@TransferSector) April 25, 2024
“He [Amorim] follows Manchester City and Brighton closely and makes sure he watches a couple of Premier League games every week. pic.twitter.com/6KXazDsw5U
This could be a bold call and big shoes to fill should Kompany end up as Pep Guardiola’s replacement.
Kompany was recently appointed as Bayern Munich's coach until the summer of 2027. The young coach has a lot to prove considering Bayern being a top club for his status as a manager.
Being once Guardiola’s student as a player, Kompany might have learnt something under his ex-manager. However, it remains to be seen whether he would be up in City having recently been appointed as Bayern coach for the upcoming season.
Never gets old, does it? 💥
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 10, 2024
🎂 @VincentKompany 🎂 pic.twitter.com/K4VAnv7SYL
Zinedine Zidane was a success at Real Madrid. He won three successive UEFA Champions League with the Los Blancos—a remarkable feat in the club’s history.
There is no doubt that Zidane is a top coach. However, the idea of seeing him in the Premier League remains wishful thinking, as he once rejected the possibility of becoming Manchester United coach or coaching in the EPL.
Zinedine Zidane 🤠@PepTeam pic.twitter.com/Prd3Nf667E
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 24, 2022
The current Parish Saint-German coach is a serial winner, with an impressive record during his spell at Barcelona.
He took charge at PSG in July 2023 with the goal of winning them the Champions League—a dream yet to be realized after their elimination in the hands of Borussia Dortmund in the semi-final of the 2023/24 UCL.
Should Guardiola leave in 2025, Luis Enrique’s standard as a coach fits quite well for the City job. However, it is yet to be seen whether he will leave PSG soon, with their UCL dream yet unfulfilled.
Oscar Garcia’s name on this list might come as a surprise. The 51-year-old Spaniard is the current coach of OH Leuven, with a contract running till June 2026.
Oscar Garcia was a member of Johan Cruyff’s coaching staff in the Catalonia national team in 2009. He’s since gone on to explore Europe coaching Brighton & Hove Albion, Watford, Salzburg, Celta Vigo, and Reims.
It’s yet to be seen whether a coach of his status would suit the Manchester City job. However, his 33/1 new Man City manager odds suggest that it could only be nothing but wishing thinking for the Spaniard.
The issue of who is Manchester City’s next manager isn’t yet a thing, considering there isn’t certainty yet that Guardiola will leave City in 2025. However, with news about his possible exit flying all over the media, let’s see a list of odds for each manager who stands a chance of filling his shoes at City.
While we await certainty about Guardiola’s exit in 2025, we’ve reviewed a list of coaches that could take over from the Spaniard.
Guardiola is in the last year of his current deal. He’s said it himself he’ll still be at City next season; however, nothing can be ruled out, especially with the recent unrest about City’s 115 Premier League charges and news about him leaving in 2025 resurfacing in the media.
It’s currently the season of international tournaments, with Euro 2024 currently ongoing. As usual, we will expect Euro 2024 football news to take the central stage on the internet, with fans and bettors expressing their passion for their favourite teams via Euro 2024 betting sites.