According to CaughtOffside, Pep Guardiola will retire at the end of the season, and everything should be ready for Enzo Maresca to take over as manager of Manchester City.
The report suggests that Manchester City have quietly prepared for the transfer, securing a thorough agreement with the former Chelsea manager to return to the Etihad. “Hands of Arsenal” have people inside the club and point to a definitive exit for Guardiola.
Read: There came the explanation of why Ruben Amorim faced Manchester United
The internal preparations are said to be so advanced that discussions have even arisen about naming a grandstand in his honor, at least a statue.
– Journalists fear a U-turn from Guardiola
Despite the scale of the shift, major sports journalism has remained remarkably quiet. The report attributes the silence to Guardiola’s “unpredictable nature” and suggests that journalists simply fear a last-minute U-turn—which could jeopardize their own professional reputation.
Although the club is expected to deny the allegations, the framework for the “post-Pep” era should be finalized. Maresca has been identified as the chosen successor to lead the further tactical development.
Highlights of Pep Guardiola’s legendary career
Before we dive into what Maresca can bring to City, it is worth reminding ourselves of the size of the footprint he will fill. Pep Guardiola is without a doubt one of the greatest managers of all time.
- Barcelona (2008–2012): Guardiola took over Barca’s first team as a new coach. In his first season, he led the club to a historic “sextuple” – six trophies in one year, including La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League. In total, he won 14 trophies in four years, and revolutionized modern football with his positional style of play.
- Bayern Munich (2013–2016): In Germany, he continued his winning pattern. He won the Bundesliga in all three of his seasons, as well as two DFB Trophies and the Club World Cup. Bayern dominated domestically, but the European Cup gold did not materialize.
- Manchester City (2016–present): Guardiola’s project in England has been an exercise in total dominance. He has won the Premier League several times, including the historic “centurion” season (100 points). In 2023, he led City to the club’s first Champions League title as part of a stunning treble.
In total, Guardiola has won over 30 trophies, and he has set a new standard for tactical preparation, possession and winning mentality. Replacing him is perhaps the most difficult job in football.
“Enzo Maresca would be a good choice”
Maresca is far from a stranger to the inner workings of City Football Group. Having been an assistant to Guardiola during the historic treble-winning season, he has an in-depth understanding of the club’s philosophy and tactical requirements.
His coaching style, often described as “Pep-lite”, emphasizes positional play, inverted full-backs and suffocating possession – elements that are already deeply ingrained in today’s teams.
By hiring Maresca, City wanted to ensure continuity rather than an unstable rebuild. It will allow the squad to slide seamlessly into a new era under a manager who knows the club and its values incredibly well.
Guardiola’s political commitment – a sign of farewell?
Speculation surrounding Guardiola’s departure has increased, driven not only by coach fatigue but also by his increasingly outspoken stance on global issues.
Guardiola has recently used his platform to address sensitive political topics, including the situation in Palestine and the repression in Sudan. His comments on Sudan are particularly interesting, given the geopolitical interests of the club’s owners.
His willingness to speak out on the Sudan issue – where the club’s owners are accused of contributing to oppression – indicates a man who no longer worries about how the statements reflect back on his employer.
This change in his public appearance fits well with the narrative that he himself is ready to leave City.
Read on Radiosporten: Tottenham got help in the relegation battle
