Man City next manager odds: who will succeed Pep Guardiola when he leaves?

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola fuelled rumours that he would depart the Etihad Stadium in an interview with ESPN earlier this month. 

Speaking candidly on his future, the 54-year-old confirmed that he will take a hiatus from football once he leaves the club: “After my contract with City, I'm going to stop. I'm sure.”

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The six-time Premier League champion explained that he is yet to decide whether City will be his final job in management: "I don't know if I'm going to retire, but I'm going to take a break."

With those quotes resulting in a media frenzy, Sky Sports sat down with the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager. When prompted, Guardiola was vagueish on when he may call time on his contract with City: 

"I didn't say I'm leaving now or at the end of the season or the end of the contract. I said when I finish my time here, be it one, two, three, four, five years, I will take a break.

"I won't retire but I will take a break. What I am saying is when I am finished here I will take a break.”

With Guardiola potentially open to an imminent farewell, Sky Bet have rolled out its favourites to land the City hot-seat. 

1) Michel – 3/1

Girona manager Michel has been lauded for his side’s successes since earning promotion to La Liga in 2022. Having clinched Champions League qualification through a third-place finish in 2023/24 and garnered plaudits for diligent possession-based football - the 49-year-old stands as Sky Bet’s favourite to fill Pep Guardiola’s shoes should he exit. 

Crucially, Girona are a member of ‘The City Group’; a sports organisation run by Manchester City’s owners. 

2) Xabi Alonso – 4/1

Xabi Alonso’s triumphs at the helm of Bayer Leverkusen have not gone unnoticed - with domestic league and cup achievements making headlines throughout the footballing world. 

The former midfield maestro revealed that he will move on from Leverkusen when his contract expires this summer. Many expect him to replace Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid - but the Spanish giants have demonstrated that there is no room for second place, even in a manager’s debut campaign. 

Should Alonso fail to hit the illustrious heights set by Florentino Perez, Manchester City may swoop. 

3) Vincent Kompany – 8/1

Bayern Munich welcomed Vincent Kompany to the prestigious outfit in the same year that his Burnley side tumbled from the Premier League into the Championship. 

His style of play and ability to nurture young talent proved pivotal in the 39-year-old’s hiring - and a 2024/25 Bundesliga gold medal has showcased the young manager’s capabilities in a strong dressing room. 

A return to City sometime during his coaching career appears inevitable. Whether the club’s owners believe he can land silverware in England’s highly competitive top-flight is another story. 

4) Ruben Amorim – 12/1

Despite ongoing struggles with Manchester United, Sky Bet have placed Ruben Amorim at 12/1 to become the next permanent City manager. 

The 40-year-old’s record at Old Trafford represents an outlier compared to his performances in Portugal - never falling below 71% in terms of winning percentages in any of his last three seasons in Liga Portugal. 

As unlikely as this switch may seem, City could view a potential sacking of Amorim as an opportunity to snag one of Europe’s most promising young coaches. 

5) Andoni Iraola – 14/1

Bournemouth have not finished below 12th position in the Premier League since Iraola’s 2023 arrival, proving that he can progress a ‘lesser’ squad to relative success. 

Iraola’s intense pressing, bold formations and rapid attacking prowess allow his teams to capitalise on opposition errors. However, the former Athletic Club veteran is unproven in a post where silverware is expected. 

Odds correct at the time of writing.