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What once seemed impossible is now becoming reality for Manchester City, as Pep Guardiola prepares to bring an end to his dazzling decade at the Etihad Stadium. The iconic coach is widely expected to step down at the close of the current season, concluding a revolutionary chapter for both City and English football. Filling his shoes will be no easy task, yet former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca stands poised to take over.

Right now, the race to succeed Guardiola appears to be a one-sided affair. Maresca has long been viewed as the leading—and perhaps only—candidate to return to the club where his coaching career began. However, the potential appointment is bound to stir debate, considering the sheer stature of the man he would replace.

Backed by the immense resources of Sheikh Mansour and the Abu Dhabi Group, Guardiola has delivered unparalleled success to Manchester City—winning at least one major trophy in every season but one across his 10-year tenure. His crowning moment came in 2023, when City captured their first-ever UEFA Champions League title, defeating Chelsea in the FA Cup final to reach an astonishing total of 17 major trophies.

Replacing Guardiola is virtually impossible, making Maresca’s upcoming challenge an unenviable one as he returns to the club where his journey as a coach began.

Guardiola’s decade in charge will be remembered as one of the most dominant in football’s modern era. In a time when managerial turnover is rampant, he built a dynasty at the Etihad Stadium and will depart entirely on his own terms.

After a modest beginning that saw City finish third in the Premier League in 2016-17—15 points behind champions Chelsea—Guardiola’s side went on to dominate English football. The Spaniard now boasts eight domestic cups in his collection, a testament to his relentless pursuit of excellence.

Throughout the years, Guardiola relied on a core group of world-class players including Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Sergio Agüero, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, and Erling Haaland. Under his guidance, City claimed back-to-back Premier League titles in 2018 and 2019, followed by an unprecedented run of four consecutive championships from 2021 to 2024.

The pinnacle of his reign came in 2023, when City lifted their first European Cup after defeating Inter Milan in Istanbul, completing a historic treble and cementing Guardiola’s legacy as one of football’s greatest managers.

Replacing Guardiola is a near-impossible task. Since news of his impending departure broke, the Catalan has been universally hailed as a footballing genius—and rightly so. His influence, inspired by his mentor Johan Cruyff, has reshaped modern football. From tiki-taka to inverted full-backs, false nines to box midfields, Guardiola’s tactical innovations have been studied and replicated across leagues and continents.

Maresca is one of many disciples of Guardiola’s philosophy—alongside Arsenal’s Premier League-winning coach Mikel Arteta and numerous others across the globe. Guardiola’s influence truly knows no bounds.

His track record of success is equally staggering. City have lifted silverware in every campaign since Guardiola’s arrival, an achievement that underscores his unparalleled consistency. Replicating such success will be an immense challenge for any successor.

Nonetheless, Guardiola has laid the groundwork for continued success. In recent transfer windows, he has overseen a gradual rebuild, phasing out ageing stars like De Bruyne, Ederson, Kyle Walker, and Ilkay Gundogan, and introducing younger talents such as Rayan Cherki, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Tijjani Reijnders—all yet to reach their peaks.

This season’s January transfer dealings were particularly astute, with Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi fitting seamlessly into the team and helping City push Arsenal to the very end in a tight title race.

From the club’s academy, Nico O’Reilly has emerged as one of the Premier League’s breakout stars of 2025-26. The 21-year-old’s athleticism and versatility perfectly mirror Guardiola’s footballing philosophy, and he is already being touted as one of the most promising full-back-midfield hybrids in the league.

Maresca’s familiarity with City’s structure offers him a solid foundation. The Italian is well-known within the club, having previously worked under Guardiola in various capacities. After guiding City’s Under-23s to the Premier League 2 title in 2020-21, he briefly managed Parma before returning to the Etihad Campus in June 2022 to join Guardiola’s first-team coaching staff.

He was part of Guardiola’s backroom team during the treble-winning 2022-23 season, which significantly raised his profile. Leicester City appointed him soon after, and following a Championship title with the Foxes, he earned a move to Chelsea a year later.

Throughout his time at Chelsea, Maresca often praised Guardiola, calling him a “genius” and acknowledging that Pep’s Barcelona inspired him to become a coach. “I decided to become a manager because of Pep’s Barcelona team,” he said last year. “No one can be compared to that side, or to Pep. He changed football in Spain, Germany, and England. In the last 25 years, no one has influenced football as much as Pep.”

Guardiola, in turn, has spoken highly of Maresca. “One of the best managers in the world, Enzo Maresca, I know him well. His work at Chelsea deserves much more credit,” Guardiola said earlier this season. “Winning the Club World Cup, the Conference League, and qualifying for the Champions League with a young team in such a tough league is exceptional.”

Despite Guardiola’s endorsement, many City supporters question why the club’s succession plan seems limited to one candidate. With their financial strength, City could have pursued other high-profile options such as Xabi Alonso, Andoni Iraola, or Xavi—though Alonso recently took charge at Chelsea.

Other Guardiola protégés are also excelling in Europe. Luis Enrique, currently chasing back-to-back Champions League titles with Paris Saint-Germain, and former City captain Vincent Kompany, now leading Bayern Munich to new heights, could both have been intriguing alternatives. However, reports suggest both are committed to their current projects.

Considering the circumstances, Maresca may represent the safest and most cost-effective option—a familiar face who understands the club’s ethos, even if City must pay Chelsea compensation to secure his services.

Still, doubts remain over whether Maresca can replicate Guardiola’s extraordinary success. His tenure at Chelsea was turbulent; a strong start that hinted at a title challenge unravelled over a difficult winter, with the Blues slipping from second place to a fourth-place finish, 15 points behind champions Liverpool.

Yet, he did deliver trophies. Under Maresca, Chelsea comfortably won the UEFA Conference League and stunned the footballing world by thrashing PSG to claim the FIFA Club World Cup, inspired by Cole Palmer’s heroics in the final.

Despite these triumphs, his relationship with Chelsea’s hierarchy deteriorated. Reports suggest he clashed with club executives over interference in first-team matters and contract negotiations. Following a poor run of one win in seven games, he was dismissed on New Year’s Day, amid rumours of his talks with City.

Now, Maresca steps into a very different environment. City’s structure and stability contrast sharply with Chelsea’s chaos, offering the Italian a platform to thrive. His possession-based approach, incorporating inverted full-backs—a clear nod to Guardiola’s influence—should ensure tactical continuity at the club.

Though he lacks Guardiola’s charisma, Maresca’s meticulous attention to detail, intensity, and commitment to collective success could serve him well. His existing rapport with City’s younger players will also be crucial as he begins a new chapter at the Etihad Stadium.