Guardiola ‘thinking long and hard’ about England job

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is seriously considering taking up the vacant England job, according to reports.

The Spaniard is in the final year of his contract at the Etihad but there is no certainty he will sign fresh terms that would take him into his tenth year.

The Daily Mail has reported today that Guardiola is ‘thinking long and hard’ about taking up the vacant job with England after the FA made an approach to him. The outlet stated: “He loves British footballers. He loves the traditional spirit. He loves the way the country has evolved its development of youngsters into more technically able players while maintaining that renowned grit. It’s always made him think this national team ought to earn pre-eminence on the world stage.

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“He’ll have been thinking long and hard since that approach from the FA came months back because, for a man who openly wants international management to form part of his future, jobs don’t come much bigger.”

Man City will have a lot of change on the horizon, particularly in the summer. Txiki Begiristain, the club’s director of football and Guardiola’s good friend, is set to leave at the end of the season. Erling Haaland has been linked with a move to Real Madrid and Barcelona. Meanwhile, Man City is currently in court with the Premier League over 115 charges concerning financial regulations. The club vehemently denies any wrongdoing.

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There is another report, however, that complicates matters for the FA. According to the Daily Telegraph, Guardiola is weighing up whether to sign a 12-month extension to his current contract. He last extended his deal in November 2022, with it now running until 2025.

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However, the report does state that “while remaining at City is very much an option, Guardiola is interested in taking charge of a national team.”

Guardiola has won all there is to win with Man City. Six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, and one Champions League is in his trophy cabinet, among others. Last summer, he led the Citizens to the treble, a feat that has not been achieved since Manchester United’s triumph in 1999.