Following the announcement that Pep Guardiola will leave German champions, Bayern Munich, at the end of the season, there will no doubt be a huge scramble for his services in the coming months.
Some Pep Guardiola as the best coach in world football; others believe that his managerial expertise has never really been tested, as he has only ever managed clubs packed with world class players, but has never actually built a great team of his own. A common argument in this respect is that if you can’t win the Champions League with Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andrés Iniesta in the side, then something is clearly wrong. The same people will also point to the fact that Bayern Munich were the reigning European Champions when Guardiola took over, and haven’t managed to repeat that success during his tenure.
So, what are the options for the world’s most sought-after coach, and how much of a challenge would each of them present to him?
Manchester City
According to some sources, this is already a done deal. Despite clearly having the best squad in the Premier League, City haven’t exactly set the world alight this season. Even with the fitness issues surrounding Sergio Agüero, with such resources at their disposal, they should be topping the table. Many believe the fact that they aren’t is down to the fact that manager, Manuel Pellegrini, already knows he will be out of a job by the summer.
Should he move to England, this would be the easy option for Guardiola, as Manchester City have almost unlimited resources to spend – they are one of few clubs that could actually afford to buy Lionel Messi – and fantastic facilities. A little bit of tweaking here and there would be all that is required to return the Sky Blues back to the top of English football. The only question would be whether he can take them to that Champions League trophy that Sheikh Mansour clearly desires.
Challenge Rating – 5/10
Arsenal
If Arsenal don’t win the Premier League title this year, then it might be safe to assume they will never again win it under the stewardship of Arsène Wenger. They will never have a better chance, with all of the teams around them being so inconsistent. But, some believe that even if the Gunners win the trophy this season, Wenger may retire, going out on a high just as Sir Alex Ferguson did at Manchester United.
Many believe that Arsenal would be the perfect club for Guardiola, as they have a great set-up, a superb stadium and play a similar passing game to that of Barcelona – just without the success that the Catalan giants have enjoyed. The appointment of Guardiola could be just what the North London club need to turn into winners.
Challenge Rating – 7/10
Paris Saint-Germain
In many ways, this would probably be seen by many as the easiest option of all. The Parisian outfit have won three Ligue 1 titles in a row. Currently sitting almost twenty points clear at the top of the French league table, it would take a monumental collapse for them to relinquish their crown.
Given that Laurent Blanc’s position is hardly under threat, the only way this would happen is if Blanc got an offer from one of Europe’s big boys. His impressive work with Bordeaux and the French national team, before moving to the Parc des Princes in 2013, hasn’t gone unnoticed by teams such as Real Madrid and Barcelona. With that in mind, it’s hardly likely that he will finish his career there, and it’s not unthinkable that, with little else to achieve at PSG, he could move on this summer. Keeping the club at the top of French football, with a squad far superior to anyone else in the country, wouldn’t be the hardest task in the world for a coach like Guardiola. If nothing else, it would pretty much guarantee more trophies on his C.V.
Challenge Rating – 5/10
Chelsea
It’s no secret that Roman Abramovich admires the model that Barcelona have in place, and has coveted Guardiola for years. Rumour has it that the Chelsea owner has tried on at least two separate occasions to recruit him, but Guardiola is unimpressed by the way they conduct themselves as a club, and does not want to be a part of the managerial merry-go-round. Another factor is that, unless Chelsea manage to win the Champions League, they probably won’t be participating in it next season.
If he did take up the reigns at Stamford Bridge, there would be a certain amount of rebuilding that would need to be done, but it is hard to judge at this time exactly how much is needed. What is certain, however, is that Guus Hiddink is only there until the end of this campaign. By that time, it will probably be clear which Chelsea players just weren’t playing for José Mourinho, and which ones are actually past their best. If Guardiola likes what he sees, he may be persuaded.
Challenge Rating – 8/10
Manchester United
Nobody knows exactly what is going to happen at Old Trafford over the coming weeks, but many believe that Louis van Gaal will not be there by the time Guardiola leaves the Allianz Arena. Many sections of the media believe that Mourinho will land his dream job in the not too distant future, whereas others believe that Ryan Giggs will be installed as interim manager until the end of the season. If the latter were to happen, it could be because Ed Woodward has already lined up Guardiola as a replacement.
Currently, United have a squad with plenty of talented young players but are short on quality in a few key areas – most notably in attack. With the financial muscle that Manchester United now have, demonstrated over the last two summers, there is no doubt that Guardiola would be able to attract, and afford, the world’s best players. Whether he would be able to get the club back to where the fans believe they belong is another matter. If Pep Guardiola really wants to test his qualities as a manager, guiding England’s biggest club back to the pinnacle of domestic and European football would surely be the perfect challenge. Given the rivalry between him and José Mourinho, the chance to snatch the job his enemy wants the most would, almost certainly, be an attractive prospect.
Challenge Rating – 9/10
The Unlikely Possibilities
Vicente del Bosque has stated his intentions to resign as manager of the Spanish national team after Euro 2016, and as yet no successor has been named. Guardiola has not expressed any desire to take charge of his country, but may fancy a change from the pressures of day-to-day club management. Despite their disappointing World Cup campaign, they are still one of the best international sides in the world. Guardiola, however, is a supporter of the Catalan Independence movement, and may not prove too popular with certain sections of the fans because of this.
It’s a seldom remembered fact that Guardiola played in Italy for two years in the latter stages of his playing career, with Brescia and Roma, respectively. Shortly before he agreed to become manager of Bayern Munich, several newspapers reported that he was in talks to take over at AC Milan. If they, or one of the other giants of Italian football offered him a return to Serie A, he may well surprise everybody.
Whatever his next move is, it could the one that defines his legacy.
Main Photo
