November 10th 2024.
Pep Guardiola, the respected manager of Manchester City, recently announced that his assistants Mikel Arteta and Enzo Maresca should not expect to take over his role once he steps down. After a successful reign at the Etihad Stadium since his arrival in 2016, Guardiola seems to be nearing the end of his time with the club and is rumored to leave at the end of the current season.
During his time at Man City, the 53-year-old has led the team to four consecutive Premier League titles, six domestic cups, and even the Champions League. However, the team is currently going through a rough patch, having lost their last four games in all competitions, which has caused them to fall behind Premier League leaders Liverpool and be eliminated from the Carabao Cup.
As Manchester City prepares for life after Guardiola, former England midfielder Danny Murphy has dismissed the possibility of Arteta and Maresca taking over the job, despite their close ties to the club. Arteta, who is currently the manager of Arsenal, previously served as Guardiola's assistant before taking over at Arsenal in 2021. Similarly, Maresca, who is currently the manager of Chelsea, previously worked in the Etihad academy until the same year.
Murphy acknowledges that it is a great compliment to Guardiola that two of the brightest managers in the Premier League have worked under him and have brought significant improvements to Chelsea and Arsenal. He also believes that Arteta and Maresca will be considered for the job once Guardiola leaves, as they already have a deep understanding of the club. However, Murphy doubts that it will actually happen.
He speculates that Manchester City will likely want a manager with experience in winning major leagues or European competitions, as they will need someone who can attract star players, especially with their new sporting director Hugo Viana joining the team. Additionally, Murphy believes that Arteta and Maresca may not be ready to sacrifice their current projects for the daunting task of following a legend like Guardiola.
Furthermore, Murphy questions whether not having Guardiola or Txiki Begiristain, the current director of football at Man City, in the club would affect their ability to recruit top players. While modern players consider various factors when choosing their next move, Murphy still believes that managers like Zinedine Zidane, Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso, or even Vincent Kompany would be more successful in attracting A-list players than Maresca. He also mentions the possibility of Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann, who may be available after the 2026 World Cup if Guardiola stays longer.
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