Pep Guardiola responds to England job speculation with intriguing remark

Guardiola’s Manchester City contract expires in the summer

Lawrence Ostlere
Monday 14 October 2024 12:14 BST
Comments
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admits “anything can happen” with his future amid links to the permanent England job (Nick Potts/PA)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admits “anything can happen” with his future amid links to the permanent England job (Nick Potts/PA) (PA Wire)

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Pep Guardiola has left the door open to one day become manager of England after suggesting “anything can happen” in his future.

Guardiola’s contract with Manchester City runs out at the end of the season, adding to the uncertainty around the four-in-a-row champions amid a legal case brought on by the Premier League alleging more than 100 financial breaches, which City deny.

ITV pundit Roy Keane suggested England should “go for Pep” while interim manager Lee Carsley admitted: “The job deserves a world-class coach that has won trophies and has been there and done it.”

Guardiola recently stressed his love for City is “deep” and has not ruled out signing an extension, but has yet to make any definitive decisions amid links to succeeding Gareth Southgate as permanent England manager.

“Leaving City? It’s not true, I haven’t decided yet,” Guardiola said when asked about his future on Italian TV show Che tempo Che Fa.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is out of contract at the end of the season (Martin Rickett/PA)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is out of contract at the end of the season (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Wire)

“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.”

Keane believes England should bide their time to see whether Guardiola is a viable option.

Speaking after interim manager Lee Carsley oversaw a 3-1 Nations League win over Finland in Helsinki, former Manchester United captain Keane said: “The FA have to go for the best guy, whatever.

“Go for the best. Pep’s contract is up in the summer.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in