Imagine you’re looking for a new job. The job you’re currently in has been good, but you’ve always had ambitions to try your hand elsewhere. So you give your notice and start exploring your options. After carefully evaluating them you find yourself with four potential options. Now it’s time to break down the pros and cons of each.
The first option is one that’s just been advertised, it’s very well paid with lots of benefits. Whilst it’s in a nicer city than two of the others, it’s not a long term role and one where you’d have next to no job security. Your boss has the potential to be very overbearing, and all in all it’s not for you. So you turn it down and move onto the next one.
Secondly is a role in the same city that’s not being advertised explicitly like the others. The person currently in the role has been so for a long time, but has set his sights on retirement. The date of that retirement is not set, and you may have to wait a while before you can begin. That might be longer than you’re willing to wait and becomes unrealistic, so it joins the first option on the scrapheap, leaving two choices.
The third option is intriguing. You’ve always wanted a job at the place and have envisioned yourself working there before. A spot is finally available, but it’s not all rosy. The company is in a bit of strife internally, and some incidents have left its reputation damaged. Whilst still an interesting option, the appeal is not what it once was.
It is the fourth option that is starting to make the most sense. A company that has headhunted you personally for years, it is a rising power in its field. The highest paying of all four roles, it’s an exciting opportunity to be part of something new. Friends of yours from your previous job now work there, and you’d be working exclusively alongside them. On paper, it makes the most sense despite your previous desire to work at company three.
In basic work terms, this analogy is the best way to explain Pep Guardiola’s job situation up until recently. Announced as the Manchester City manager to clarify his own future as well as current Sky Blue boss Manuel Pellegrini, the Catalan genius is on his way to Manchester. The options listed above you can probably guess. The first two were London giants Chelsea and Arsenal, two distant and less likely choices.
The third was Manchester United. A club Guardiola himself had previously said he could envision himself working with one day, Sir Alex Ferguson had personally approached the outgoing Bayern Munich boss when the Spaniard was on his sabbatical in 2013. However, he was turned down and the former Barcelona man headed for Bavaria.
Now the choice between Manchester clubs is closer than it has ever been. United are currently fading, struggling under the leadership of Louis Van Gaal, as well as the incompetence of football novice Ed Woodward. Although an undisputed commercial guru, his lack of football know-how and transfer negotiation failures are playing a leading hand in driving the Old Trafford club into the ground. Not helping are club owners the Glazer family, who seemingly are not phased by on-field performance until it begins to affect the club’s bottom line.
Not only that, the club’s youth system is in serious decline. The under-18’s currently sit last in the table, having won three of the their nineteen games. It is a shambles, and gone are the days of its youth products were being churned out. Promise is still there of course, but the “Class of 92” reputation the system has is now a thing of the past. The fact Brian McClair has not been replaced as director of the youth program since departing in February 2015 speaks volumes as to their current plight.
But the club who is standing top of the under-18 table? Manchester City. In stark contrast to their fierce local rivals, the noisy neighbours are getting louder by the week. Under Guardiola’s guidance, it might even be a case of the clubs switching roles. City are a rising power. Their income is not quite in United’s league yet, but they’re getting closer every season.
A brilliant youth programme and academy, City headhunted Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano in 2012 to help revamp themselves off the field. Bankrolled by club owner Sheikh Mansour (who unlike the Glazers has taken a keen interest in the club on and off the field), the Citizens are a rising European superpower. After years of planning they’ve finally got their man.
There will be criticism of Guardiola’s decision, there will be no doubting that. Claims of “taking the easy way out”, taking a job with no challenge, always taking the easy jobs and various other insults are bound to come his way. But is taking the City job really easy? Everyone will be against him, rooting for him to fail in his first journey outside of the traditional European giants.
Money will not be a problem for him of course, as he seeks to rebuild the Sky Blues in his image and playing style. But that would have been the same at any English club he chose. The challenge at United would have been a very different one with the Red Devils in a current state of turmoil not seen at Old Trafford since the early 1990’s.
If it were your career and reputation on the line, would you not pick the option with better security, living conditions, financial benefit and overall package? Sure the Etihad Stadium might not be full now, but the supporters will be jumping on the bandwagon now more than ever with the Spaniard aboard.
Guardiola’s journey in Manchester will be a fascinating one. It might not be the decision some expected or wished he would make (680 million fans worldwide might be incredibly disappointed and bitter about it), but the Spaniard shouldn’t be blamed for making a career and life decision most probably would have made. Hate his sometimes arrogant personality or his career success, but don’t blame him for making a “safe” decision. Most probably would have done the same.
