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Guardiola Has Already Tipped Kompany As Man City’s Future Manager
Pep Guardiola has already revealed who he believes will be manager of Manchester City after he eventually steps away from the Etihad dugout.
The Spaniard’s future in the north-west appears to be uncertain, after a report from David Ornstein detailed that figures inside the club believe that there’s a growing feeling that this season will be his last. A decision on Guardiola’s position will be made closer to the end of the 2025/26 season.
It’s not stopped the City hierarchy from planning next steps should the former Barcelona manager step away. Enzo Maresca has been touted as a potential successor, with the Chelsea boss admired by club officials.
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Guardiola Named Former City Player as Future Manager
However, Guardiola has already given his thoughts on who might stand in the City dugout once he eventually leaves the club. In an interview way back in 2023, ahead of Man City and Burnley’s FA Cup quarter-final match, he stated that Vincent Kompany has the capabilities to lead the club from the sidelines.
“His destiny to be manager of City is already written in the stars. It’s going to happen. I don’t know when, but it’s going to happen.”
The Spaniard doubled down on those comments in a separate interview. He said: “Maybe he doesn’t agree with me, but having seen his teams I’m more than convinced today he’s going to come back.”
Guardiola and Kompany worked together for three years after the former arrived in England back in 2016. Playing 62 games for the Spaniard, the Belgian international was able to gain valuable insights from one of the greatest managers in football history, which gave him a first-rate education to begin his own managerial journey.
Since retiring in 2020, Kompany has gone on to manage at Burnley, where he achieved promotion to the Premier League, and then Bayern Munich, his current position. To date, he’s lifted the Bundesliga title in 2024/25, as well as the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, hinting that a long and successful managerial career lies in store.
Kompany on Man City Links
While he will no doubt be linked with the position should Guardiola step down at the end of the season, Kompany has already given his thoughts on inheriting the Man City role. Club president Uli Hoeness had said that the manager had already been told by his former coach that he would be his successor at the Etihad.
Asked about Hoeness’ comments in the build-up to Bayern’s match against Union Berlin in the DFB Pokal at the start of December, the Belgian responded with: “I’ve often said, I’m not here to comment on Uli Hoeness’ statements. I have huge respect for him. But in football I can’t think that far ahead, my focus is on Bayern and what we can achieve now.
“I like to just live in the world I have in front of me now, that takes up all my time. I have zero thoughts about other teams, I only see FC Bayern.”
