Manchester City are expected to draw up a three-man shortlist of potential successors to Pep Guardiola that Xabi Alonso will feature on.

Pep Guardiola’s story at Manchester City is one of the greatest journeys modern football has ever seen, and it is a story that many people still find hard to believe even now. When Guardiola first arrived in Manchester in 2016, the club was already successful, already rich, already respected in England, but it was not feared across Europe. City had money, they had talent, but they did not have an identity that scared opponents before a ball was even kicked. Guardiola came with one mission, and that was to turn Manchester City into a football machine that would dominate games, dominate leagues, and dominate eras.

The expectations were massive from the first day. Guardiola was not just another manager. He was already a legend before stepping into English football. What he had done at Barcelona changed how football was played. What he achieved at Bayern Munich kept them at the top of Germany while pushing tactical ideas forward. City believed that if anyone could take them from a strong club to a historic one, it was him. But the beginning was not perfect. His first season was uncomfortable at times. City struggled defensively, dropped points, and finished fourth. There were no trophies. Critics were loud. Some said English football was too physical for him. Some said his ideas would never fully work in the Premier League.

Guardiola stayed calm. He always does. He rebuilt patiently. He demanded specific players who could think fast, pass fast, and move fast. Over time, the change became clear. Manchester City stopped playing like a normal English team and started playing like Guardiola’s team. The football was brave, aggressive, and relentless. Soon, trophies followed. League titles arrived. Records were broken. Seasons finished with over 90 points. Teams came to the Etihad already beaten in their minds.

Then came the ultimate moment in 2023 when City finally lifted the Champions League trophy. That night felt like the closing of a long chapter of pain, pressure, and unfinished business. Guardiola had done what he was brought to do. He had turned City into one of the most dominant teams football has ever known. Six Premier League titles. Domestic cups. European glory. Eighteen trophies in total. For many fans, it felt like this era should last forever.

But football does not work like that. Time moves. People get tired. Motivation changes. Guardiola himself has always said he does not like staying too long in one place. He likes challenges. He likes fresh energy. Now, as the 2025/26 season moves forward, the whispers are growing louder. Even though Guardiola’s contract runs until 2027, there is a strong belief in football circles that he may walk away at the end of the season. Not because he has failed, but because he may feel the story is complete.

Manchester City publicly deny that anything is decided. They call the rumours speculation. They say Guardiola is happy. They say nothing is planned. But behind the scenes, big clubs never wait until the last minute. City know better than anyone that losing Guardiola would be the biggest change in their modern history. So quietly, carefully, they are preparing. They are thinking about life after Pep, even if that life has not yet begun.

Reports suggest City have started drawing up a shortlist of possible replacements. Not a public list, not an official one, but names that fit the Guardiola philosophy. Managers who understand possession football, positional play, and control. Three names are believed to be on that shortlist, and one of them has surprised many people.

Xabi Alonso is one of the most fascinating names linked to the job. His rise as a manager has been rapid and dramatic. What he did with Bayer Leverkusen in the 2023/24 season was historic. An unbeaten league campaign. Tactical intelligence. Calm leadership. Players improving week after week. Europe watched in admiration. When Real Madrid moved for him, it felt like destiny. A former Madrid midfielder returning as manager. But football can be cruel. Alonso’s time at Madrid did not go as planned. Results were unstable. Pressure was intense. After just 233 days, he was gone.

Now, Alonso is without a club, and City are watching closely. His football ideas are modern. His intelligence is clear. His calm presence fits the Guardiola mould. The only uncomfortable detail is his deep connection to Liverpool, one of City’s biggest rivals. Still, football is ruthless, and sentiment often disappears when excellence is available. City are believed to be seriously considering him.

Another name gaining attention is Cesc Fabregas. For many fans, Fabregas is still remembered as a silky midfielder, a playmaker with vision and intelligence. But his work as a manager is now turning heads. At Como in Serie A, Fabregas has impressed with his tactical clarity and man-management. He understands the Guardiola way better than most because he played under him. He lived it. He absorbed it. City believe that could matter greatly if continuity is the priority.

Then there is Enzo Maresca, a man who already knows Manchester City from the inside. Maresca worked as Guardiola’s assistant before stepping into management himself. He led Leicester City, impressed with his ideas, and later moved on to Chelsea, where things did not work out. Like Alonso, he is currently without a job. City rate him highly. They trust his understanding of the system. They know he would not need time to learn the club’s philosophy because he already lived it daily.

The responsibility of choosing Guardiola’s successor will fall mainly on Hugo Viana, City’s director of football. It is one of the most difficult decisions any football executive can make. Replacing a legend is not just about tactics. It is about personality, authority, and emotional control. Guardiola’s presence alone commands respect. His voice carries weight. Whoever replaces him will walk into a dressing room full of players who have won everything. That is dangerous territory for an inexperienced or weak leader.

Guardiola himself may even be asked for his opinion. City respect him deeply. They know his recommendation would not be emotional but professional. He understands the demands of the job better than anyone alive.

Despite the noise, Guardiola continues to speak calmly about his future. In December, he made it clear that he is still happy. He said he wants to stay. He said results always decide. He admitted football chapters end naturally. He spoke about still feeling excited, still seeing room to improve, still enjoying working with the players. His words did not sound like a man desperate to leave. But they also did not sound like a man promising to stay forever.

Guardiola admitted that his feelings matter most. Right now, his feelings are good. But football changes fast. A bad season, a draining title race, or simply mental fatigue can change everything. City know that. Fans know that. That is why the rumours will not stop.

For Manchester City supporters, the idea of life after Pep is frightening. Many have never known anything else. Guardiola’s football has become the club’s identity. Losing him would feel like losing a part of themselves. But City are not a club built on emotion alone. They are built on planning, structure, and long-term thinking. If Guardiola leaves, they want the next chapter ready to begin immediately.

Whoever replaces Pep Guardiola will not just inherit a team. They will inherit pressure, expectation, and comparison. Every draw will feel like failure. Every defeat will be magnified. That is the price of success. Guardiola set the standard so high that even excellence now feels normal.

The truth is simple. Pep Guardiola will not manage Manchester City forever. Whether he leaves this summer, next year, or later, the end will come. City know it. Football knows it. The question is not if, but when. And when that day arrives, the football world will stop and watch, because replacing Pep Guardiola is not just another managerial appointment. It is the beginning of a new era, and no one yet knows if that era will shine as brightly as the one that came before.