Pep Guardiola replacement lined up with legendary Man City boss expected to quit this week

Enzo Maresca has already agreed to succeed Pep Guardiola as Manchester City manager, talkSPORT understands.

While Man City insiders point to him having one more year on his contract, it is understood that the club are preparing for Guardiola to exit the Etihad Stadium this summer after ten trophy-laden years.

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Maresca left Chelsea in January and he now looks set to succeed Guardiola, having worked at City as a coach before embarking on his own managerial career.

The Italian boss did not leave his Blues role knowing that the job at the Etihad would be his, as talkSPORT understands that he didn’t have the job lined up until the March international break.

Guardiola walked out of an interview with talkSPORT when asked if he would be back to defend the FA Cup next season after winning it for a third time with a win over Chelsea on Saturday.

He also walked out of an interview with TNT Sports when asked about his future after the final.

But now, it seems like his departure is coming this week, with his former assistant in position to take over.

Guardiola joined Man City in 2016, succeeding Manuel Pellegrini in the dugout following spells with Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

During his time in charge, he has won 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles and an historic treble.

Also included in his 20 trophies are three FA Cups, five Carabao Cups and the Champions League.

He is considered to have had a major impact on English football over the last decade, and said when asked at the weekend whether his tenure at City has been the definition of greatness: “Yeah, of course, 19 [sic – 20] titles in 10 years is not bad.

“They know they don’t need to wait until I’m leaving, they know I have been fun. So 19 titles – fight for 20 in 10 years – it’s not bad, honestly.”

‘One of the best managers ever’

Reacting to the news, former Man City player and manager Stuart Pearce told talkSPORT: “Enzo Maresca knows the club.

“I would fully expect, Pep being the outgoing manager, with the influence that he has at the club, if I was the owner, the first person I’d ask about the next manager would be Pep Guardiola.”

Pearce added: “We lost Jurgen Klopp a year or so ago, that had a big impact, Arsene Wenger… I always feel sad when the collosus’ go, Sir Alex, Brian Clough.

“It’s not just Man City that will be sad, but it’s the world of football should be.

“He bought the best style of play that I’ve ever seen in my 50 years of life… he’s in an argument as one of the best managers there has ever been in the history of football.”

Sam Matterface then said: “It’s the influence he’s had on everyone else, coaching in League Two, League One, they’re all trying to play the way Pep taught people to play… we as a country play a different style than we ever did before, because of the way he has influenced the game.”

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Maresca returning to Manchester

Italian Maresca is set to head back to Manchester to replace his former boss in the dugout at the Etihad.

He first joined Man City as a coach in their development squad in 2020 and went on to win the Premier League 2 title.

Then, after a spell in Italy with Parma, he returned to join Guardiola’s coaching staff in 2022, replacing Juanma Lillo.

Such was his impact under Guardiola that he attracted interest from Leicester City, who made him their manager a year later.

Maresca then led Leicester to the Championship title, bringing them back to the top flight at the first time of asking.

And that is when Chelsea swooped in, appointing the 46-year-old as their replacement for Mauricio Pochettino.

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He remained in charge until January of this year, leading the Blues to Conference League and Club World Cup glory in 2025.

But Maresca then departed amid tensions with the club’s board – and he hasn’t had a job since.

Man City are going to give him a place back in the Premier League, though, as he replaces the iconic Guardiola.

Pep’s incredible career

Guardiola has become one of the most legendary managers of all time having begun his senior managerial career at Barcelona in 2008.

At the Camp Nou, Guardiola guided Barca to three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues from in four years.

A spell in Germany then followed, with the 55-year-old becoming Bayern Munich boss in 2013.

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Bayern won three straight Bundesliga titles under Guardiola.

Man City then came calling in 2016 and he would go on to create an incredible legacy in the Premier League.

As mentioned, across ten years at the club, he has won 20 trophies, including six top-flight titles and the Champions League.

City’s incredible treble in 2023 will go down in history and is sure to be one of Guardiola’s many career highlights.