FA look to appoint legendary Premier League manager as new England head coach

If Pep Guardiola decides to quit Manchester City in 2025, the Football Association will be taking into consideration the possibility of selecting an interim manager in an attempt to persuade him to become the manager of England. Even while waiting is not the federation's first option, if there was any potential of landing the Catalan, it would at least prompt a reevaluation because he is such an exceptional candidate.

Two days after England's loss to Spain in the UEFA Euro 2024 final, Gareth Southgate announced his resignation on Tuesday morning, implementing an extensive strategy for his departure from the Football Association. 

Now, finding a manager who is familiar with the national team's culture is important. Guardiola matches this description admirably, after spending the past eight years in England and producing an ample amount of players.  Naturally, he ranks highly on lists of ideal candidates, but in the past, it was thought to be nearly impossible to lure him away from City for a position like this.

The English Premier League champions currently have a sense that Guardiola may depart at the conclusion of the 2024–25 campaign. The Premier League's ongoing inquiry into City over more than a hundred allegations of potential financial regulation violations is complicating his future. The club emphasizes their naiveté.

Guardiola has previously stated that he would love to manage internationally, but mostly for the romantic aspect of leading Brazil. The FA would want to highlight the possibility of ending England's protracted wait for a major trophy in a scenario like this, in which he would find interesting. 

Who can lead the team before Pep Guardiola arrives as England manager?

One issue is that, like in previous seasons, the former FC Barcelona manager might not make a call until the conclusion of the 2024–25 campaign. Even though the FA has emphasized that they want to act quickly, there may be a transitional period. Not even the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers begin until late March. 

Given that Lee Carsley is a current contender for the senior position, one would view the Under-21 manager as someone prepared to take the reins. If he performs well in these games, he might even get promoted if Guardiola decides to stay at City or wants the position.