Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has urged the club’s hierarchy to begin planning for a future without him at the helm. The Catalan coach, whose current contract with the Premier League champions runs until 2025, believes it is crucial for the club’s long-term stability and continued success to have a succession strategy in place.

Guardiola, widely regarded as one of the greatest football managers of all time, has enjoyed an immensely successful tenure at the Etihad Stadium since his arrival in 2016. He has guided City to multiple Premier League titles, domestic cups, and, most notably, the Champions League trophy, completing a historic treble in the 2022-23 season.

Despite his ongoing success and the team’s dominant form, the 53-year-old emphasized that no manager is indispensable. He stated that the club should not be solely reliant on one individual and that a robust plan for his eventual departure is a sign of strong, forward-thinking leadership. This proactive approach, he suggests, will ensure a seamless transition and maintain the club’s high standards.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has consistently expressed his commitment to City during his current contract period. However, his comments signal a desire to ensure the club’s infrastructure and strategic planning extend beyond his immediate influence. This includes identifying potential successors and developing a clear vision for the team’s future direction and playing philosophy.

Guardiola’s philosophy has profoundly shaped Manchester City’s identity, instilling a distinctive style of play characterized by possession-based football, intricate passing, and high pressing. The club’s academy and recruitment strategies have also been aligned with this vision, aiming to cultivate players who can thrive within his system.

By initiating these discussions now, Guardiola aims to provide ample time for the club to identify, scout, and potentially groom a manager who can uphold the club’s legacy and continue its trajectory of dominance. This forward-looking perspective underscores his dedication to Manchester City’s enduring prosperity, irrespective of who is in the dugout.

This proactive stance from Guardiola highlights a mature understanding of club management, where the focus extends beyond immediate results to encompass the sustainable growth and stability of the institution. It is a move that could well set a new benchmark for how leading football clubs approach managerial transitions in the modern era.

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Keywords: Pep Guardiola, Manchester City, football manager, succession planning, club strategy, Premier League, Champions League, Etihad Stadium