The Football Association of England has reportedly approached Pep Guardiola about the possibility of taking over as the national team manager following Gareth Southgate’s departure this summer.
According to a recent report from The Times, while top names like Eddie Howe, Graham Potter, and Thomas Tuchel have supporters within the FA, Guardiola is seen as their ultimate choice for the role.
Informal discussions took place between the FA and Guardiola this summer, signaling their interest in the Manchester City boss.
As of now, Guardiola has not given a definitive response to their approach. He is in the final six months of his contract at City and, despite strong backing from the club, has yet to make a decision regarding his future.
A former Manchester United midfielder, Roy Keane, urged the FA to be bold in their pursuit of Guardiola during his punditry for ITV after England’s 3-1 victory over Finland.
Keane stated, “Go for the best. Pep’s contract is up in the summer,” emphasizing the significance of landing a coach of Guardiola’s caliber.
In a recent interview on the Italian TV show ‘Che tempo Che Fa’, Guardiola acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his future.
“Leaving City? It’s not true, I haven’t decided yet,” Guardiola said, as reported by ‘Sky Italia’.
He also addressed the England job rumojrs, clarifying, “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.”
Manchester City have previously convinced Guardiola to remain at the Etihad Stadium, notably through the influence of chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak.
There is no indication that City will not attempt to retain their manager once again, given his remarkable success with the club.
Guardiola, with six Premier League titles to his name, stands second only to Sir Alex Ferguson in the all-time rankings, surpassing the achievements of Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho.
Meanwhile, interim England boss Lee Carsley has expressed ambivalence about taking on the role permanently.
Initially appointed to guide the team through the November international break, Carsley is not expected to remain in charge long-term.
The situation leaves England in search of a new direction, with the FA dreaming of bringing Guardiola into the fold as they look to build on Southgate’s legacy.
