The Football Association (FA) has reportedly made contact with Pep Guardiola regarding the possibility of him taking over as the next England manager. With Guardiola’s contract at Manchester City set to expire next summer, The Times indicates that the FA reached out informally at the start of the season, though they have yet to receive a response.
Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane has publicly urged the FA to pursue Guardiola, stating during his ITV punditry following England’s 3-1 victory over Finland: “Go for the best. Pep’s contract is up in the summer.”
Guardiola himself remains non-committal about his future. In an interview with the Italian TV show Che tempo Che Fa, he stated, “Leaving City? It’s not true, I haven’t decided yet. And it is not even true that I will be the next England coach. If I had decided, I would say it… I don’t know either, anything can happen.”
Since joining Manchester City in 2016, Guardiola has enjoyed remarkable success, securing six Premier League titles, including the last four consecutively, as well as a Champions League trophy. He is undoubtedly a standout candidate for the England role should he become available, although bookmakers currently favor former Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel.
In the meantime, England Under-21s manager Lee Carsley is serving as interim coach for the final Nations League group matches next month. He has led the team to three wins and one defeat since taking over from Gareth Southgate, who resigned following Euro 2024.
The FA has consistently refrained from discussing its managerial recruitment strategy, and Manchester City has declined to comment on the ongoing speculation surrounding Guardiola’s future.
