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Pep Guardiola To Leave Man City? Enzo Maresca Emerges as Leading Contender for Etihad Role in 2026/27

Nicole Powell, Manager · · 3 min read
Pep Guardiola To Leave Man City? Enzo Maresca Emerges as Leading Contender for Etihad Role in 2026/27
25th January 2025; Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England; Premier League Football, Manchester City versus Chelsea; Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola follow the action from the touchline ActionPlus12743914 DavidxBlunsden Content restricted for UK based newspaper

The possibility of Guardiola to leave Man City is beginning to gather serious attention as reports suggest Pep Guardiola could walk away from Manchester City at the end of the season, bringing an end to one of the most successful managerial spells English football has ever seen.

Despite Guardiola still having time remaining on his contract, increasing speculation points towards a major change at the Etihad Stadium, with the manager having allegedly told his players that he will be leaving at the end of the season. While there has been no official confirmation from Manchester City, discussions surrounding Guardiola to leave Man City continue to grow.

If the reports prove accurate, City supporters may soon be preparing to say goodbye to the manager who transformed the club into a dominant force in both English and European football.

Guardiola To Leave Man City: End of a Historic Era?

As soon as speculation over Guardiola’s future emerged, attention naturally shifted towards possible replacements.

One name appearing frequently is Enzo Maresca.

The former Manchester City assistant worked closely under Guardiola and knows the structure of the club well. Reports suggest Maresca to Man City is becoming a genuine possibility if Guardiola decides his time at the Etihad has come to an end.

The idea of Maresca to Man City may make sense for several reasons. Maresca understands Guardiola’s football philosophy and already has strong relationships inside the club setup.

City may prefer continuity rather than a complete tactical rebuild, and appointing somebody already familiar with Guardiola’s methods could offer exactly that.

And, after spending time developing his own managerial career, he has increasingly built a reputation as a coach capable of leading at the highest level.

After winning the EFL Championship with Leicester in 2023/24, he joined Chelsea. There, he got the club up to fourth place on the Premier League table, won the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup in 2025, and brought a newfound identity to the London club for arguably the first time under BlueCo.

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Big Decisions Ahead for Manchester City

For now, Manchester City remain focused on finishing the season strongly. However, questions surrounding Guardiola to leave Man City are unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

If Guardiola does depart, his exit would represent the end of a remarkable chapter. The manager arrived with huge expectations and somehow exceeded them all.

That will leave any manager, be it Maresca or someone else with big shoes to fill, as Man City usher in a new era.

Main Photo

Credit: IMAGO / Action Plus

Recording Date: 25.01.2025

Nicole Powell, Manager

Nicole Powell is the site manager of ExtraTime Talk, a football site in the Last Word on Sports (LWOS) network.

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