Josep Guardiola is under contract with Manchester City until the end of the 2026/27 season, but speculation continues that he may leave at the end of this season.
Pep Guardiola could resign at the end of the season (Image: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Manchester City should consider keeping Josep Guardiola as director of football when he ultimately steps down as manager, according to Stuart Pearce. Guardiola’s contract with City runs until the end of the 2026/27 season, but there have been numerous reports that he could leave after this season.
The 55-year-old has been City’s manager since 2016 and has overseen the most successful period in the club’s history, winning six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four Carabao Cups, the Champions League and the Club World Cup.
He signed a new contract in November 2024 until June 2027, but speculation has increased in recent months. City have already begun the process of identifying a replacement, with Guardiola’s former assistant Enzo Maresca being considered by the club after leaving Chelsea in January.
Pearce, who managed City from 2005 to 2007, believes the club will need to do everything in its power to retain Guardiola in some way if the time comes for him to leave his current job.
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“If you look at all the football clubs around the world and how stable certain clubs are, Manchester City is one of the most stable. With this manager, I don’t see the owners rushing for headlines, but it would be a huge ask to replace him when he leaves,” he told Betway.
“Whether or not they consider potential equivalent successors, they have feeder clubs all over the world, but do they have managers all over the world who could come in from other clubs? That could be in the future. A complete change in style might set them back a bit.”
“Can you recreate what he’s already achieved? It was truly incredible. Obviously, I was at City before the riches and riches arrived, so you can see the impact he’s had. I’m going to hang on to him for as long as humanly possible.”
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Josep Guardiola’s future as manager remains uncertain (Image: Carl Recine, Getty Images)
“There has been talk in recent years of adding him. Personally, if I were City, I would keep him there. Then as director of football I might want to keep him there.”
Guardiola has done everything in his power to deflect rumors about his future. “I have one year left on my contract,” he said earlier this month. “That question was from a month or two ago, and you weren’t here, but I’ll reiterate that it’s the same answer I gave you a few months ago.”
In December, he was even more positive, saying: “I’m happy here and I want to stay. What can I say? Results always decide. At the end of the second chapter, the club will choose what is best to continue this great spell at Man City.”
“There have been rumors over and over again over the last few years, but I want to stay here. We’ll see at the end of the season.” He added that City had to “get ready” for his departure.
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