England role among ‘options’ for Manchester City manager

Pep Guardiola has said a potential offer to become England manager would be among “a lot of options” if the 53-year-old decided to leave Manchester City.

Spaniard Guardiola appeared open to the suggestion when he was asked about the England vacancy while fielding questions before the Community Shield 2024, speaking minutes before the FA announced the appointment of Three Lions Under-21s boss Lee Carsley on an interim basis “throughout autumn”.

“I have to decide what I want to do with my life,” said Guardiola, who is yet to extend a City contract which ends in June 2025. “Do I want to carry on here, take a break or manage a national team?

“There are a lot of options. I’m fully excited for this season because I see things I like. It’s a new challenge and we can break our own record. I’m looking forward to all coming back together and seeing how we behave every day.”

🗣️ “I’d like Pep to be honest”

Wayne Rooney gives his thoughts on the search for Gareth Southgate’s replacement 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/4D8L7KmuND

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 9, 2024

Guardiola record

City became the first men’s team in the history of English football to win four consecutive titles when they finished ahead of Arsenal in May, making Guardiola a Premier League winner for the sixth time in his eight seasons at the Etihad Stadium.

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said England wanted to appoint a permanent successor “as soon as possible” following Gareth Southgate’s resignation in July, ending his eight-year reign with defeat to Spain in the final of Uefa Euro 2024.

Guardiola is by far the most successful current Premier League manager and has won the Uefa Champions League once with City and twice with Barcelona, where he began his managerial career as Barca B coach in 2007.

The revered former midfielder has won the Spanish title three times as a manager, as well as the German Bundesliga in each of his three seasons with Bayern Munich.

Coaching England’s National Team? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
This is what Guardiola had to say 😳#beINSPORTS #Guardiola #England pic.twitter.com/0WLfOAirt4

— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) July 23, 2024

England manager: Carsley favourite

Carsley and former Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion and Swansea City manager Graham Potter are the favourites to become permanent England manager, while Jurgen Klopp, who left Liverpool after almost nine years at the end of last season, appeared to dismiss any prospect of replacing Southgate earlier this week.

City can avenge their surprise FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United in May when they meet their arch-rivals again at Wembley on Saturday (3pm BST).

“It’s important: a final against United,” said Guardiola. “Apart from that, it’s about trying to refine ourselves, step by step. It’s about how the young players behave on a big stage.

“We’ve tried to give [the squad] as much rest as possible. We’d like to give them more time but it is what it is. We gave them a lot.”