Pep Guardiola will be replaced as Manchester City’s manager by Enzo Maresca before the next campaign. The legendary City manager Guardiola is anticipated to depart the team after Sunday’s season-ending game at Etihad Stadium against Aston Villa, as BBC Sport reported on Monday.
The top candidate to succeed the illustrious Spaniard for the 2026–2027 campaign is Maresca, a former head coach of Chelsea. City has been planning for Guardiola’s summer departure for almost six months, and negotiations with Maresca have progressed.
In due course, the 46-year-old is anticipated to be announced as Guardiola’s replacement. The Italian manager, who spent his only full season at Stamford Bridge winning the Conference League and Club World Cup and qualifying for the Champions League, was previously employed by City.
Before joining the first squad, he was an important member of City’s academy and Guardiola’s assistant during the team’s 2022–2023 treble-winning season.
Enzo Maresca to sign three-year deal as Man City manager
As City prepare to take on Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday night, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Enzo Maresca will replace Guardiola as Manchester City manager on an initial three-year deal, with a verbal agreement in place between the Italian and the City hierarchy.
It is not exactly known when Manchester City could make it public that Guardiola is leaving the club, with the Blues still fighting for the Premier League title ahead of monumental fixtures against Bournemouth and Aston Villa.
Before Sunday’s home game against Aston Villa, an official confirmation may be made in order to mobilise the supporters and make a fitting farewell for Manchester City’s best manager ever, who has won 20 titles while at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola and company need three points on the south coast to remain in the race for the championship, but with plenty of time between Bournemouth and Villa, City officials may choose to announce the news early. They also have an open-bus parade scheduled for Monday to commemorate the accomplishments of the men’s, women’s, and academy teams this season.
