Pep Guardiola has made plain that his future remains in flux, acknowledging that “anything can happen,” including a possible departure from Manchester City and taking the helm of the England national team.
Guardiola, a six-time Premier League champion and three-time European Cup winner as a coach, is out of contract with City at the end of the season. The 53-year-old invariably speaks warmly with regards to the longest job of his managerial career, which began in 2016, but the departure of director of football Txiki Begiristain, a close Guardiola ally, has prompted renewed speculation over his future.
That comes at a time when one of the biggest jobs in international football remains available. Under-21 boss Lee Carsley has taken charge of England for their four Nations League games and is expected to remain at the helm for the last two games in November. However, the former Birmingham City and Everton midfielder has not applied for the job on a permanent basis and has offered mixed messages as to whether he would be interested.
The English Football Association are keeping their cards close to their chest over a confidential process but it is hard to believe that they would not jump at the opportunity to employ Guardiola, one of the best managers in the game. Whether that opportunity will present itself is no clearer after the City boss appeared on Italian TV.
“Leaving City? It’s not true. I haven’t decided yet,” Guardiola told “Che Tempo Che Fa” when asked about his future. “And it is not even true that I will be the next England coach. If I had decided I would say it … I don’t know either. Anything can happen.”
Former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel has also been linked with the England vacancy — he could emerge as a leading contender if Manchester United part ways with Erik ten Hag — while Eddie Howe and Graham Potter are the native contenders most frequently put forward.
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