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Is Pep Guardiola destined to move to Manchester?

By on December 16, 2015

Pep Guardiola joined Bayern Munich in 2013 with the object of improving on perfection. Yet after two-and-a-half of almost eerily mechanical diligence, two league titles, two Champions League semifinal appearances and a win rate even higher than in his heydays at Barca, the maestro appears to be restless again.

The news follows an announcement made by Bayern chief executive Karl Heinz Rummenigge that he will meet with Guardiola to discuss the manager’s future after their match with Hannover on Saturday, and that a deliberation on his contract situation will be made by Christmas. Either Guardiola will extend his contract and stay, or move on. His only possible destination seems to be the Premier League.

The money flowing into the league from their new television deal next season (e.g., the Premier League’s last-place finisher next season will earn more in prize money than the winner of the competition this season) has already enticed leading outspoken managers such as Louis van Gaal, Jurgen Klopp, and Jose Mourinho, and Guardiola’s capture would be a major coup for the league. Guardiola knows Van Gaal from his playing career at Barca and has previously faced Mourinho in his Barca days and Klopp in Germany.

Guardiola seems destined to end up in Manchester at some point; the biggest question is whether that’s at the Etihad or Old Trafford (sorry Wigan, we think he’ll pass up the opportunity).

Arsenal and Chelsea have also been put on high alert by these rumors but they would be a bit more than a long shot.

The Spaniard had been linked to the City job ever since the final days of his Barca tenure, given his close relationship with City’s director of football and CEO, Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano, respectively, both formerly of Barca. It’s no secret that they’ve been chasing Guardiola for a few years now — rumors of his arrival raged last summer, only for Manuel Pellegrini to sing another year-long deal with the Sky Blues — and even if Pellegini pulls off a title victory, the Chilean stands little chance in front of Guardiola (Jupp Heynecks won everything in football and couldn’t hold onto his job at Bayern).

City have modeled their club structure around Barca for some time now and they seem to view Guardiola as the last piece to this puzzle. Combined with their balanced, rejuvenated squad and a board that the gaffer trusts, City seems to be Pep’s most likely destination.

However, Guardiola has previously expressed his respect for United as well, and Sir Alex Ferguson says in his autobiography that in 2012, whilst Guardiola was on a sabbatical, the pair met for dinner in New York City and Ferguson revealed his wish for the ex-player to one day succeed him at United. If only Ferguson had known how soon retirement would be on his agenda. “I asked Pep to phone me before he accepted an offer from another club, but he didn’t and wound up joining Bayern Munich in July 2013,” wrote Ferguson.

The recent unrest at Old Trafford might put off Guardiola, but it would be the third time that he has followed in Louis van Gaal’s footsteps — granted, it has taken the Dutchman longer get United at peak performance this time around. Yet the club’s heritage and status within English football is certainly enticing for any manager, particularly Guardiola.

Photo credit: Thomas Rodenbucher, via Flickr

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.