Former Tottenham man names 66-year-old as ideal Pep Guardiola successor at Manchester City

There are some questions in football that never go away. No matter how many trophies are won. No matter how many contracts are signed. No matter how many times the manager says he is happy. The question still remains.

What happens after Pep?

At Manchester City, this question is slowly growing louder. Not because things are going badly. Not because the team is collapsing. But because time moves forward. And even the greatest managers cannot stay forever.

Pep Guardiola is now deep into his tenth season at Manchester City. Ten seasons. In modern football, that is almost impossible. Most managers do not last three years. Some do not even last one full season. But Pep has built something special in Manchester. A dynasty. A machine. A team that does not just win, but dominates.

He is under contract until 2027. On paper, everything looks secure. But football is not only about contracts. It is about energy. It is about motivation. It is about mental strength. And managing a top club drains all of that.

Recently, former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara gave his opinion on who could replace Pep one day. His words have started a new debate.

O’Hara said managing a top club is one of the hardest jobs in the world. He said the pressure ages you. He said constant press conferences, constant expectations, and constant scrutiny take a toll on you. And he is right.

At Manchester City, every week is a final. Every game must be won. Every performance must be perfect. If City draw one match, headlines appear. If they lose, the world starts asking questions. That pressure never sleeps.

O’Hara believes Pep may need a break one day. Not because he is failing. But because being at the top is exhausting. However, he also made something clear. He does not believe Pep is leaving anytime soon. He thinks Guardiola is in it for the long haul.

Still, the question remains. If one day Pep decides to step away from the Etihad Stadium, who replaces him?

Many names have been mentioned. One of them is Roberto De Zerbi. The Italian coach made a strong impression during his time at Brighton & Hove Albion. His teams played attractive football. Brave football. Possession-based football. In many ways, his style fits the Manchester City identity.

But O’Hara does not think De Zerbi is the perfect like-for-like replacement. He said there is only one type of manager who could truly mirror Pep’s stature and experience. And that name is Carlo Ancelotti.

Ancelotti is now 66 years old. He has managed some of the biggest clubs in the world. Most famously, he has enjoyed huge success at Real Madrid. His trophy collection is massive. Champions League titles. League titles. Domestic cups. He has seen everything.

What makes Ancelotti special is not only his trophies. It is his calm personality. Where Pep is intense, emotional, and constantly thinking, Ancelotti is relaxed. Calm. Almost silent at times. Players respect him because he gives them trust. He does not shout too much. He manages big egos with intelligence.

O’Hara suggested that if Manchester City truly want someone at Pep’s level, it would have to be someone like Ancelotti. Someone with similar experience. Someone who understands how to win at the very highest level.

But here is the reality. Replacing Pep Guardiola is not just about trophies. It is about identity.

Pep changed Manchester City. Before him, City were strong. They had money. They had good players. But under Guardiola, they became something else. They became a system. A philosophy. Every pass has meaning. Every movement is planned. Every player understands his role perfectly.

To replace Pep, City need someone who understands that identity. Someone who respects the structure already built.

Behind the scenes, succession planning is believed to be happening. Sporting director Hugo Viana, who replaced Txiki Begiristain, is reportedly thinking about the future. Big clubs do not wait for problems. They prepare early.

One interesting name linked internally is Enzo Maresca. Maresca previously worked as an assistant under Guardiola. He understands the system. He knows the club. He knows the players. For many, he represents continuity rather than change.

And maybe that is what City really want. Not a revolution. But evolution.

Jamie O’Hara also made another important point. He said Pep might win three trophies this season. That is the funny thing about this debate. People are talking about his successor while he is still winning. While he is still building a new team.

Manchester City recently refreshed their squad. Younger players are coming in. The team looks energetic again. Hungry again. It does not look like a team ready to say goodbye to its manager.

And Pep himself does not look like someone who is finished. Yes, he looks tired sometimes. Yes, the pressure shows on his face. But that is normal. Every top manager carries that weight.

Managing Manchester City is not just about tactics. It is about maintaining standards. The training sessions must be intense. The mentality must be strong. Players must stay focused even after winning everything.

Ancelotti could bring experience. De Zerbi could bring innovation. Maresca could bring continuity. But none of them are Pep.

That is the truth many fans struggle with. There is no exact replacement. Just like there was no exact replacement for Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. Great eras are unique.

Still, football never stops. One day, Guardiola will leave. Maybe in 2027. Maybe earlier. Maybe later. And when that day comes, Manchester City must be ready.

Ancelotti at 66 would be a short-term solution. He could stabilise things. He could manage big stars. But would he stay long? Probably not.

De Zerbi is younger. Ambitious. Tactical. But his experience at the very top level is still growing.

Maresca understands the Guardiola philosophy deeply. But does he have the authority and presence to command a dressing room full of global stars? That question remains open.

For now, though, this is all speculation. Pep Guardiola is still in charge. He is still under contract. He is still fighting for trophies.

Jamie O’Hara may believe Ancelotti is the only true like-for-like option. Other pundits may disagree. Fans may argue on social media. But inside Manchester City, the message appears calm.

There is no panic. There is no emergency.

Pep is still here.

And maybe that is the biggest point of all. Sometimes, football loves drama too much. It loves predicting endings before they arrive. But Guardiola is not finished. He is rebuilding again. Adjusting again. Competing again.

Replacing him will be one of the hardest decisions in Manchester City’s history. Not because there are no good managers in the world. But because there is only one Pep Guardiola.

Until he decides otherwise, the future remains unwritten. The Etihad Stadium still belongs to him. The training ground still follows his voice. The players still look to him for answers.

And while people debate about Carlo Ancelotti, Roberto De Zerbi, or Enzo Maresca, Pep Guardiola continues doing what he has done for a decade.

Winning.

The day he finally walks away will feel huge. Emotional. Historic. But that day is not today.

For now, Manchester City move forward with the same man who changed their history. And as long as he stays, every conversation about his successor remains just that.

A conversation.