Pep Guardiola Replace Gareth Southgate, FA Must Wait 2025

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. (X/@ManCity)

JAKARTA - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is a strong candidate to replace Gareth Southgate who resigned as manager of the England national team. But the FA (Football Association) had to wait for Guardiola until 2025.

The FA does not have to wait long. Guardiola's contract in Man City expires after the 2024/2025 competition. With Guardiola's appointment as the manager of the England national team, Man City will certainly not renew his contract.

Guardiola is one of the strongest candidates from seven managers to be accused of dealing with The Three Lions.

Apart from him, there are still Newcastle United managers Eddie Howe, Graham Potter, Steven Gerrard, Lee Carsley who handle the U-21 national team, and foreign duo, Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino.

The next candidates are Frank Lampard and Jurgen Klopp. It's just a bit difficult to bring in Klopp who just left Liverpool. Klopp expressed his desire to rest first before returning to the bench.

According to The Independent, although there are a number of names that have the potential to become Southgate successions, the FA has determined Guardiola will handle the national team. Even the FA has no objection to waiting until 2025 when its Man City contract expires.

The problem is Guardiola has not responded to the news. It is also not certain whether the former Barcelona coach is interested in handling the England national team.

It's like being a gamble because the FA has to wait for one season of competition. Interestingly, Guardiola is not certain to accept the offer.

Former national team defender Jamie Carragher expressed his support for Guardiola's appointment. However, the FA must prepare plan B by preparing an alternative if it fails to recruit this 53-year-old manager.

Carragher, who in his career only strengthened one club, Liverpool, stated that the FA could appoint Howe as an alternative if Guardiola turned down the offer. According to him Howe is the most appropriate figure among the candidates.

The same thing was said by Manchester United legend Paul Schholes who suggested the FA appoint Guardiola. Schholes said the FA should look for managers who always win and win ('win-win') to replace Southgate.

According to Schholes, who has 66 times defended the England team, there are no most appropriate candidates except Guardiola. The reason is, he is the best manager in the English Premier League at this time.