Pep Guardiola reportedly approached by FA over England manager’s job
Pep Guardiola could leave Manchester City at the end the current season with his contract expiring in June
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has reportedly been approached by the FA regarding the role of England’s next head coach.
According to The Times, informal contact was made with Guardiola at the start of the season as the FA seeks a permanent replacement for Gareth Southgate.
While the governing body is considering other candidates, Guardiola is viewed as the “standout option” if he chooses to leave the Etihad Stadium when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Though the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager has not yet responded to the FA’s overture, he is expected to make a decision about his future in the coming weeks.
Unsurprisingly, Man City are eager for Guardiola to remain and embark on a 10th season with the club.
Guardiola aligns with the criteria outlined by the FA in their job advertisement, which calls for a manager with “significant experience of English football, a strong track record of delivering results in the Premier League and/or leading international competitions,” as well as someone who is “experienced in successfully identifying, managing, and developing English-qualified players.”
On the Italian TV show Che Tempo Che Fa this past Sunday, Guardiola discussed his future, claiming: “Leaving City? It’s not true, I haven’t decided yet.
“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.”
While Pep Guardiola remains the ideal candidate for the England manager position, several other names are also being considered.
Thomas Tuchel, who is currently out of work, has reportedly been in negotiations with the FA.
Meanwhile, interim boss Lee Carsley has not ruled himself out of contention following Sunday’s impressive 3-1 victory against Finland.
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