After an international break full of mixed emotions from the England camp, it seems to be all but certain that Lee Carsley won’t lead the Three Lions to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane, however, knows who the perfect replacement would be.
Keane wasted no time in naming Pep Guardiola. The Manchester City boss — widely regarded as one of the biggest tactical geniuses in football — runs out of contract in 2025 and so far, has not committed to anything publicly.
🎙️| Pep Guardiola on his Manchester City contract that’s due to expire:
“Let’s see on my future.. I still need to reflect and decide what I want to do.” 🗣️⁉️
🗞️ @chetempochefa / @FabrizioRomano pic.twitter.com/QhanQcoQtr
— City HQ (@City_HQs) October 13, 2024
Guardiola’s future remains in the air, and many, not just Keane, have wanted him to take over as England’s head coach. “Go for Pep. Go for the best,” Keane said as per The Irish Independent.
Guardiola is one of the most decorated club mangers in football history, having 38 titles to his name, which includes three UEFA Champions Leagues.
With Manchester City in the Premier League, the Spaniard unleashed an era of dominance that will be hard to rival in the coming years — winning six titles in the last seven years.
However, managing a national team would be a completely different ballgame altogether. The question is: will Guardiola be up for it?
Guardiola has done just about everything there is to in the world of football. He has won multiple league titles with Manchester City, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich, and changed the game with his positional style of play, forever.
Earlier this year, he admitted (as reported by ESPN), that he would love to get a shot at managing a team at the FIFA World Cup someday.
“I would like to have the experience of living through a World Cup…” the 53-year-old said, before stating that it could also be the Euros or Copa America.
This suggests that Guardiola will be open to joining a team other than England too, possibly in South America. But the fact that he will be considering a national team job should be news enough for the English FA to step in and try to get his signature.
Guardiola has been in England since 2016 and is well-settled in the country. With his brilliance, and England’s talent, the Three Lions could mount up a serious challenge for the World Cup in the US in 2026.
