Manchester City fans have long dreamed of the day when Pep Guardiola would never leave the club. They want him to stay forever, to keep winning trophies, to keep breaking records, to keep making Manchester City the best team in England and the world. Since he arrived at the Etihad Stadium in 2016, Guardiola has transformed the club from a very good team to an almost unstoppable machine. He has delivered every trophy that English football has to offer. He has made them Premier League champions many times. He has brought them FA Cups, Carabao Cups, and the big one they had always craved, the UEFA Champions League. He even won a historic treble, matching Manchester United’s 1999 achievement. In that treble-winning season, he guided City to the Premier League title, the FA Cup, and their first ever Champions League trophy, a feat that cemented his legacy as perhaps the greatest manager in the club’s history, and for many fans, the best manager ever to work in the Premier League.
But despite all the glory, the truth is that Pep Guardiola is not going to stay forever. He is human. He is already 54 years old. He has openly talked about taking a break from football once he leaves Manchester City. He has said many times that he doesn’t plan to manage at the club level again immediately. He has talked about international management as the most likely next step if he ever returns to coaching. That means Manchester City need to plan for life after Guardiola. They can’t just assume he’ll change his mind and stay another five or ten years. They need to have a plan in place so the club doesn’t collapse or fall behind their rivals when he eventually departs.
And the big question, the one that keeps fans, directors, and analysts awake at night, is this: who can possibly replace Pep Guardiola? Who can come in and fill those massive shoes? Who can take on the pressure, the expectations, the relentless demand for trophies? Who can command the respect of the dressing room, manage the big personalities, and keep the tactical standards at the highest level in the world? Whoever it is has one of the hardest jobs in football.
In recent months, there has been more and more talk about one particular candidate. Someone who is right in front of Manchester City’s eyes. Someone whose credentials are clear. Someone who seems tailor-made for the job. That man is Luis Enrique. For many, he is the obvious, logical, and ideal choice to be the next Manchester City manager when Pep Guardiola decides to leave.
Luis Enrique is no stranger to pressure, expectations, and big clubs. He was a star player himself, playing for both Real Madrid and Barcelona during his career. But it is as a manager that he has really shown his quality and won the respect of the football world. At Barcelona, he guided the club to a historic treble in 2014-15. He won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League. He did it with the famous MSN trio of Messi, Suarez, and Neymar, but he also did it with tactical flexibility, man-management skills, and the courage to make big decisions when it mattered most.
After leaving Barcelona, Luis Enrique also managed the Spanish national team, taking them to the semi-finals of Euro 2020 and the final of the Nations League. He is known for his demanding style, his intensity, and his insistence on high standards. More recently, he took over at Paris Saint-Germain, one of the most challenging jobs in football. At PSG, the expectations are sky-high every year. You have to win the league, you have to handle superstar egos, and above all, you have to finally deliver the Champions League trophy that has eluded the club for so long.
Last season, Luis Enrique did exactly that. He won the treble with PSG, including their first ever Champions League title. That achievement alone makes him stand out as one of the best coaches in the world today. It proves he can deliver under pressure. It proves he can win in different leagues, with different squads, and under different kinds of scrutiny. And crucially, it shows that he can manage a group of superstars and get them to buy into his tactical plan.
What makes Enrique an even more logical choice for Manchester City is the shared DNA he has with Guardiola. Both came through Barcelona’s system. Both were shaped by Johan Cruyff’s football philosophy. Both believe in possession-based football, playing out from the back, positional play, and dominating games with the ball. Their tactical ideas are similar enough that City’s squad, which has been built to execute Guardiola’s demands, wouldn’t need a complete overhaul to play Enrique’s football. That continuity is vital. You don’t want to rip everything up and start again when your manager leaves. You want to keep the same core ideas, the same principles, so the transition is as smooth as possible.
Of course, Enrique is not exactly the same as Guardiola. In fact, that’s part of what makes him appealing. While they share the same roots in the Barcelona philosophy, Enrique’s teams are often more direct. They can play through teams with short passing when needed, but they’re also very capable of breaking quickly, attacking with speed, and being more vertical when the situation calls for it. That blend of styles would give Manchester City a new dimension while preserving the core of what has made them so successful.
There is also a timing factor that makes Enrique a perfect candidate. According to reports, including The Athletic, Enrique’s contract with PSG runs until 2027. That’s the exact year that Guardiola is expected to leave Manchester City. Guardiola’s current deal also expires in 2027, and he has made it clear he plans to step away at that point. That alignment of contracts is no coincidence. It’s an opportunity for City to plan ahead, to approach Enrique at the right moment, and to ensure a seamless transition when the time comes.
But Enrique is not the only name that has been linked with the Manchester City job. Another strong candidate is Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard knows City inside out, having worked as Guardiola’s assistant for several years. He learned from Pep, helped develop the tactical plans, and was trusted with big responsibilities on the training ground. Since leaving City to manage Arsenal, Arteta has shown he can be a top-level manager in his own right. He has rebuilt Arsenal into a title-challenging team, playing attractive football and developing young players. He is seen by many as Guardiola’s true protégé.
In fact, reports in November suggested that Arteta was Manchester City’s dream target to replace Guardiola. The club see him as the natural successor, someone who understands the culture, the style of play, and the expectations. But there are question marks. Arteta still needs to prove he can win the biggest trophies. If Arsenal don’t win silverware in the next couple of seasons, City’s confidence in him might waver. After all, replacing Guardiola is not just about playing pretty football. It’s about winning, and winning consistently, at the very highest level.
There are other names in the conversation too. Vincent Kompany is one of them. A true Manchester City legend, Kompany captained the club to multiple Premier League titles and is beloved by the fans. He has already begun his coaching career, with stints at Anderlecht and Burnley. Most recently, he took over at Bayern Munich, one of the biggest clubs in the world. If Kompany can succeed there, win trophies, and develop as a tactician, he would be a hugely popular choice to return to Manchester City as manager. But 2027 might be too soon. He may need more time to prove himself at the elite level before taking on a job as demanding as City.
Enzo Maresca is another potential outsider. He worked under Guardiola at Manchester City and understands the club well. He is currently at Chelsea, where he is trying to establish himself as a top manager. But Maresca is still unproven. He has good ideas, but he also has clear flaws that need addressing. If he can develop over the next couple of seasons, he might put himself in contention. But as of now, he would be seen as a big gamble for a club that can’t afford to get this decision wrong.
What is clear is that Manchester City are already thinking about this. They have to. They know that losing Guardiola will be the biggest challenge they’ve faced in over a decade. Replacing a legend is always difficult. Just ask Manchester United what happened when Sir Alex Ferguson retired. Years of confusion, bad signings, managerial turnover, and falling behind their rivals. City will want to avoid that at all costs. They will want to have a plan in place, a shortlist of candidates, and a clear strategy for maintaining their success.
Luis Enrique seems like the safest bet. He is experienced, proven at the highest level, and tactically aligned with Guardiola. He has managed big clubs and big players. He knows how to handle egos and expectations. He knows how to win. And the timing of his PSG contract makes the transition feasible. If City want Enrique, they will need to move soon. PSG will be eager to extend his deal, especially after the success he brought them. City can’t afford to wait too long or they might miss their chance.
For now, City fans can enjoy the Guardiola era while it lasts. They can celebrate the trophies, the beautiful football, the records. But they also know change is coming. And when it does, they will need someone who can keep the standards just as high. Luis Enrique might just be that man. Or perhaps it will be Arteta, Kompany, or even someone unexpected who emerges in the next couple of years. But one thing is certain: Manchester City will leave no stone unturned in their search for the perfect successor to one of the greatest managers of all time.
In the end, this is about more than just tactics or transfers. It’s about legacy. It’s about ensuring that the Guardiola years are not a golden age that fades away, but the foundation of a dynasty that lasts for generations. Whoever comes next will have a lot to live up to. But with smart planning and the right choice, Manchester City can ensure the good times keep rolling long after Pep Guardiola has left the building. That is the challenge. That is the goal. And that is why this question of who replaces Pep is the biggest, most important decision the club will face in the coming years.
