THE CONFIRMATION THAT Pep Guardiola is to leave Bayern Munich at the end of this season will heighten intrigue over the sought-after former Barcelona coach’s next move.
Here, we assess how the 44-year-old could look to spend the next phase of his illustrious career – from the widely touted options to some outside bets.
Man City 8/13
Long viewed as Guardiola’s most likely next destination, due in no small part to the presence of ex-Barcelona men Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano on the City board.
Chief executive Soriano and, in particular, director of football Begiristain enjoy established personal relationships with Guardiola, while the City Football Academy base that the club opened last year makes a generous nod towards Barca’s feted Masia production line where Guardiola cut his teeth.
A splendid array of attacking talents, plus the prospect of a hefty transfer budget are factors likely to appeal to Guardiola, while suspicions remain that current boss Manuel Pellegrini has embroiled a lavishly gifted squad in a scrap for the Premier League title they should be coasting towards this season.
Nevertheless, despite patchy form, City remain fancied to win a league title Pellegrini collected at the first time of asking in 2013-14.
Should they also build on a League Cup semi-final place and a favourable last-16 draw against Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League, the Chilean could give Begiristain and Soriano a difficult decision to make when one year remains on his contract at the end of this season.
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Man United 6/1
The mounting struggles of another man to have coached both Barcelona and Bayern Munich are unlikely to have escaped Guardiola’s attention.
Louis van Gaal’s grip on power at Old Trafford has rarely seemed less secure than in the aftermath of Saturday’s dispiriting 2-1 Premier League loss to Norwich City. The normally strident Dutchman conceded that his position could be vulnerable after a sixth game without a win in all competitions.
United supporters dissatisfied by the team’s formulaic and unambitious playing style under Van Gaal would certainly be appeased by the arrival of Guardiola, who Alex Ferguson this year revealed was the ideal choice to continue his Old Trafford dynasty before David Moyes embarked upon an error-strewn tenure.
The prospect of stealing a long-time City target from under their neighbours’ noses means a move for Guardiola would further delight the United faithful. Young talents such as Anthony Martial and Memphis Depay would give Guardiola plenty to work with, although the extent to which misses outweigh hits in Van Gaal’s substantial transfer outlay mean an overhaul could be on the cards.
Arsenal 6/1
Arsenal aren’t doing too badly at the moment, after their latest win over Man City put them in a strong position in the Premier League title race.
That said, 66-year-old Arsene Wenger cannot stay at the club forever, and just as no one saw Alex Ferguson’s retirement coming, Wenger may give little warning about his departure.
Of course, Arsenal is still an outside bet, but it’s easy to see why Guardiola would be attracted to this well-run club, with a recent history of trusting in youth and playing attractive, high-quality football.
Chelsea 8/1
Jose Mourinho paying for Chelsea’s torturous Premier League title defence with his job and the subsequent appointment of Guus Hiddink until the end of the current campaign gives Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich an identical timeframe to Guardiola in plotting his next move.
Mourinho’s more pragmatic approach cut an absorbing contrast with Guardiola’s artistry when the two men were in charge of Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. Were Guardiola to take on the Chelsea squad in its current guise, established professionals would be forced to endure a significant change in style.
However, Chelsea are not without their share of artisans and it is difficult to imagine a better man to rejuvenate the ailing fortunes of Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard than Guardiola.
The Catalan’s famed rigorous and extensive preparation for matches also draws a rare parallel between himself and Mourinho — two of 21st century football’s most wilfully contrasting figures.
Barcelona 9/2
Unquestionably a long shot, as Guardiola’s thirst for new challenges has been a key driving force in him being the most desired coach in world football.
But Luis Enrique, who completed Guardiola’s 2009 feat of adding the FIFA Club World Cup to La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League titles on Sunday, last week suggested he would follow his former team-mate’s example of taking a year off when his time at Barcelona concluded.
If that comes at the end of this season, who better to pick up the reins than a man more steeped in Barcelona’s rich footballing and cultural history than most?
Both Barca and Guardiola have developed and refined their impeccable styles since the coach departed the Camp Nou in 2012. It would be fascinating, if highly unlikely, to see them take their next steps in unison once more.
5 possible destinations for the world's most in-demand coach
THE CONFIRMATION THAT Pep Guardiola is to leave Bayern Munich at the end of this season will heighten intrigue over the sought-after former Barcelona coach’s next move.
Here, we assess how the 44-year-old could look to spend the next phase of his illustrious career – from the widely touted options to some outside bets.
Man City 8/13
Long viewed as Guardiola’s most likely next destination, due in no small part to the presence of ex-Barcelona men Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano on the City board.
Chief executive Soriano and, in particular, director of football Begiristain enjoy established personal relationships with Guardiola, while the City Football Academy base that the club opened last year makes a generous nod towards Barca’s feted Masia production line where Guardiola cut his teeth.
A splendid array of attacking talents, plus the prospect of a hefty transfer budget are factors likely to appeal to Guardiola, while suspicions remain that current boss Manuel Pellegrini has embroiled a lavishly gifted squad in a scrap for the Premier League title they should be coasting towards this season.
Nevertheless, despite patchy form, City remain fancied to win a league title Pellegrini collected at the first time of asking in 2013-14.
Should they also build on a League Cup semi-final place and a favourable last-16 draw against Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League, the Chilean could give Begiristain and Soriano a difficult decision to make when one year remains on his contract at the end of this season.
Man United 6/1
The mounting struggles of another man to have coached both Barcelona and Bayern Munich are unlikely to have escaped Guardiola’s attention.
Louis van Gaal’s grip on power at Old Trafford has rarely seemed less secure than in the aftermath of Saturday’s dispiriting 2-1 Premier League loss to Norwich City. The normally strident Dutchman conceded that his position could be vulnerable after a sixth game without a win in all competitions.
United supporters dissatisfied by the team’s formulaic and unambitious playing style under Van Gaal would certainly be appeased by the arrival of Guardiola, who Alex Ferguson this year revealed was the ideal choice to continue his Old Trafford dynasty before David Moyes embarked upon an error-strewn tenure.
The prospect of stealing a long-time City target from under their neighbours’ noses means a move for Guardiola would further delight the United faithful. Young talents such as Anthony Martial and Memphis Depay would give Guardiola plenty to work with, although the extent to which misses outweigh hits in Van Gaal’s substantial transfer outlay mean an overhaul could be on the cards.
Arsenal 6/1
Arsenal aren’t doing too badly at the moment, after their latest win over Man City put them in a strong position in the Premier League title race.
That said, 66-year-old Arsene Wenger cannot stay at the club forever, and just as no one saw Alex Ferguson’s retirement coming, Wenger may give little warning about his departure.
Of course, Arsenal is still an outside bet, but it’s easy to see why Guardiola would be attracted to this well-run club, with a recent history of trusting in youth and playing attractive, high-quality football.
Chelsea 8/1
Jose Mourinho paying for Chelsea’s torturous Premier League title defence with his job and the subsequent appointment of Guus Hiddink until the end of the current campaign gives Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich an identical timeframe to Guardiola in plotting his next move.
Mourinho’s more pragmatic approach cut an absorbing contrast with Guardiola’s artistry when the two men were in charge of Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. Were Guardiola to take on the Chelsea squad in its current guise, established professionals would be forced to endure a significant change in style.
However, Chelsea are not without their share of artisans and it is difficult to imagine a better man to rejuvenate the ailing fortunes of Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard than Guardiola.
The Catalan’s famed rigorous and extensive preparation for matches also draws a rare parallel between himself and Mourinho — two of 21st century football’s most wilfully contrasting figures.
Barcelona 9/2
Unquestionably a long shot, as Guardiola’s thirst for new challenges has been a key driving force in him being the most desired coach in world football.
But Luis Enrique, who completed Guardiola’s 2009 feat of adding the FIFA Club World Cup to La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League titles on Sunday, last week suggested he would follow his former team-mate’s example of taking a year off when his time at Barcelona concluded.
If that comes at the end of this season, who better to pick up the reins than a man more steeped in Barcelona’s rich footballing and cultural history than most?
Both Barca and Guardiola have developed and refined their impeccable styles since the coach departed the Camp Nou in 2012. It would be fascinating, if highly unlikely, to see them take their next steps in unison once more.
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In Demand Next Move Pep Guardiola possible destinations Premier League Chelsea Manchester City Manchester United Wanted