Next Manchester City manager odds: Who could replace Pep Guardiola?

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With four consecutive Premier League titles bagged, and six won in the space of seven seasons, there is no doubting the incredible impact Pep Guardiola has had at Manchester City, and on English football, over the past decade.

However, the 2024/25 campaign has been an atrocious one for the champions, who are way off the pace in the Premier League title race following Sunday's 5-1 hammering by Arsenal, and facing a daunting two-legged tie against holders Real Madrid in the Champions League next. With City also out of the Carabao Cup, there is plenty of pressure on their FA Cup run this term, as they look to avoid a first trophyless season since 2016/17. 

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Such has been the magnitude of City’s struggles, that their all-conquering manager Pep Guardiola looks to be a man under pressure at the Etihad Stadium. Despite extending his deal at the club until 2027, back in November 2024, he continues to cut a frustrated figure at City and potential replacements are inevitably being lined up.

Towards the end of the 2023/24 campaign, it looked as if former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso was being primed to make a triumphant return to Anfield, taking over from Jurgen Klopp. However, Liverpool opted for Dutchman Arne Slot, a decision that looks inspired as the Reds blaze a trail in both domestic and European competition.

The presence of Alonso in the managerial merry-go-round however remains a very prominent one, as he continues to do a stellar job with Bayer Leverkusen in Germany and he has plenty of admirers at City and beyond.

It feels unlikely that City would seek to replace Guardiola any time soon, but should the former Barcelona boss quit, Alonso is the favourite to be the next Manchester City manager, according to BetMGM, at 4/1.

A potential appointment that would play on the heartstrings of City fans, would be that of Vincent Kompany, currently at Bayern Munich. The talismanic Belgian captained City to four of their eight Premier League titles, winning 10 trophies in an incredible decade at the club.

Kompany is now gaining a fearsome reputation as one of the best coaches in Europe, with his Bayern Munich side in pole pursuit as they look to wrestle back their Bundesliga crown from Alonso’s aforementioned Leverkusen.

For the man who has a statue of him outside the Etihad Stadium, it is hard to think of a more triumphant return to any club and Kompany is 7/1 to be the man to take over from his former boss Guardiola.

Closer to home, both Bournemouth and Newcastle have enjoyed excellent campaigns under Andoni Iraola and Eddie Howe respectively. Both men know the Premier League inside out and the lure of Manchester City could potentially be too strong for both managers and their current clubs.

They both have jobs to do for their current employers but are certainly in the running for the Etihad hotseat, with Iraola coming in at 12/1 and Howe looking a longer shot at 16/1.

All odds via BetMGM and are correct at the time of writing.