Pep Guardiola Reportedly Approached by The FA about the Vacant England Job
The Football Association has reportedly made a move to approach Pep Guardiola regarding the possibility of him becoming the next England manager. Guardiola’s contract with Manchester City is set to expire next summer, and according to The Times, informal contact was made by the FA earlier this season. However, as of now, there has been no official response from Guardiola regarding the offer.
Following Manchester City’s 3-1 victory over Finland, former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane, now a pundit for ITV, endorsed the idea of Guardiola taking on the role, stating, “Go for the best. Pep’s contract is up in the summer.” Guardiola himself has kept his future plans open-ended, stating, “Leaving City? It’s not true, I haven’t decided yet.”
With an impressive track record that includes six Premier League titles and a Champions League victory since joining Manchester City in 2016, Guardiola is seen as a top candidate for the England job if he becomes available. Despite this, bookmakers still favour former Paris St Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel for the position.
Currently, Lee Carsley is serving as the interim coach for England Under-21s and will continue in this role for the final round of Nations League group matches next month. Carsley has maintained a commendable record so far with three wins and one defeat after taking over from Gareth Southgate following Euro 2024.
Both the Football Association and Manchester City have refrained from making any official statements regarding the ongoing speculation surrounding Guardiola’s potential move to the England national team. The FA has chosen to keep their managerial recruitment process confidential, leaving fans and pundits waiting in anticipation for further developments.