Pep Guardiola, Man City’s boss, is mulling over a contract extension after being tapped for the England top job. The FA are seeking a permanent replacement for Gareth Southgate, with stand-in manager Lee Carsley heading back to the Under-21s.
Guardiola has surfaced as the FA’s prime target. The Spaniard, who’s led Man City to four straight Premier League crowns and is among football’s most impactful coaches, has a deal at the Etihad Stadium that runs out at the season’s end.
This situation has caught the attention of England bosses, who have approached him about taking over the Three Lions once he departs City. However, it seems Guardiola is keeping his options open.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the Spanish manager is mulling over a one-year extension to his City contract. While City would prefer a longer commitment, they’d be delighted if he agrees to stay for an extra 12 months.
Guardiola’s last contract renewal in November 2022 took him through to 2025, but any further stay at City is likely to be shorter. Though remaining at City is a real possibility, Guardiola is keen on managing a national team, reports the Mirror.
Good news for national associations eyeing him as their manager: Guardiola accepts he’ll earn less than at club level. At present, there’s no set deadline for the Spaniard as he weighs his options.
The City boss even suggested he might take a break from football if he leaves the Etihad in the summer, similar to his sabbatical after departing Barcelona in 2012. When quizzed about his future on Italian TV show Che Tempo Che Fa, Guardiola stated: “Leaving City? That’s not true, I haven’t decided yet. And it’s also not true that I’ll be the next England coach. If I’d made a decision, I’d say so… I don’t know either, anything could happen.”
