The day Pep Guardiola decides to bid farewell to the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City’s hierarchy will have the nigh-on impossible task of hiring a suitable heir to his throne.
Life at Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson’s exit in 2013 serves as a cautionary tale to City about just how key it is to bring in the right man to succeed a legendary manager.
As things stand, the Catalan’s contract at Manchester City runs out in 2027 and the Sky Blues need not be concerned about his immediate future.
With Pep Guardiola yet to decide his future at the club, only time will tell whether he pens a new deal, sees out his contract or leaves at the end of the 2025/2026 season.
Sergio Aguero backs Vincent Kompany to become Man City’s next manager
If the decorated tactician were to depart the English giants in the summer, Manchester City could hire Enzo Maresca as his successor.
Maresca was Guardiola’s assistant when City won the treble in 2023 and even managed the Elite Development Squad (EDS) before his spells at Leicester City and Chelsea.
However, speaking to The Sun, Sergio Aguero recommended his former club appoint Bayern Munich boss and Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany as Pep Guardiola’s eventual replacement.
“I haven’t really thought about it deeply, but today, there are many good coaches.
The one I like the most, because he knows the club inside out, is obviously an idol there… I think Vincent Kompany.”
Aguero, who played 176 times alongside Kompany, believes his former teammate employs the same style of football as Pep Guardiola, making him the right fit for City down the line.
Aguero and Kompany’s record at Man City
| Stat | Number |
|---|---|
| Matches | 176 |
| Wins | 111 |
| Draws | 31 |
| Losses | 34 |
“More than anything because of how well he’s doing at Bayern – it’s a team with the same style as City.
Today, I can’t see anyone who looks more like Pep than him. I could say [Mikel] Arteta, but he’s already at Arsenal and he had Pep there, so that would be very complicated. He’s doing very well at Arsenal, but right now I think Kompany is the one.”
Guardiola has already made Vincent Kompany prediction
Previewing Manchester City’s 6-0 thrashing of Burnley in 2023, Pep Guardiola predicted Vincent Kompany to return to his old stomping ground one day as manager.
Guardiola said via the club’s official YouTube channel: “He will be back sooner or later. I think his destiny to be the manager of Man City is already written in the stars. It’s going to happen. I don’t know when but it’s going to happen.
I’m pretty sure. It is my feeling, maybe I am wrong. He has all the attributes, the work ethic, the knowledge of the game, well respected, experienced.”
Vincent Kompany has gone on to become one of the best managers in the world and, as recently as October last year, he signed a contract extension at Bayern until 2029.
Whether Manchester City try to appoint Kompany or steer in another direction towards someone like Enzo Maresca once Pep Guardiola exits the club will be fascinating to see.
