Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola would be considered as a candidate for the England job if Gareth Southgate leaves after Euro 2024, according to the Daily Mail.
The English tabloid claims FA officials are “keen on testing the water” to see if the Spaniard would be interested in taking the role.
City supporters on X were rather amused by the story, with very few believing that Guardiola would leave his position at the Etihad for England:
He will reject them
— Josh (@Joshua_MCI) September 4, 2023
i just laughed hard at this😭
— prosper (@prosperoluu) September 4, 2023
0% chance
— Holder (@jasholder) September 4, 2023
He’s staying at City
— jile 🔱 (@jilemcfc) September 4, 2023
Ain't no way
— All Things City Related (@_ATCR) September 4, 2023
Pep is not a National team type of a coach..we need to see him on the touchline every week..and as a Man City coach
— kgaudi Sebopa (@kgaudisebopa_46) September 5, 2023
They can come back in 20yrs
— Bombardier🇳🇬🇺🇦 (@NomishanDaniel) September 5, 2023
not getting him
— thugwoid (@igogetsballs) September 4, 2023
Guardiola is contracted to City for two more seasons
It should be noted that Guardiola signed a contract committing himself to the treble winners until the summer of 2025.
With England planning to replace Southgate a year earlier, you can’t see Guardiola being open to to job as he will be looking to see out his current deal at City.
The English FA are also looking at other candidates
When it looked like Southgate would leave after the Qatar World Cup, a list of potential replacements was drawn up.
At the time, the Mail report that Guardiola’s name was not under consideration, but the likes of Graham Potter, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino and Celtic’s Brendan Rodgers were.
It is thought that all four names are still considered as “viable options” so it’s likely that one of those will be contacted if Guardiola knocks back the interest as expected.
