Man City has a top candidate lined up if they part ways with Pep Guardiola

Man City is said to have identified a very talented manager should they separate from Pep Guardiola.

According to sources from TEAMtalk, Man City is considering bringing back former captain Vincent Kompany, currently the coach of Bayern Munich, to Etihad to succeed Pep Guardiola.

The Belgian strategist has somewhat proven his abilities after nearly two seasons leading Bayern Munich. In the 2024/25 season, Kompany helped the "Bavarian Giants" reclaim the throne Bundesliga from Bayer Leverkusen, before winning the German Super Cup at the start of the 2025/26 season.

So far, the Bavarian team has achieved a 13-match winning streak since the beginning of the season, a feat no other European club has accomplished before. Given his performance over this period, Kompany could very well make a return to Etihad, but this time as a coach replacing his former mentor Pep Guardiola.

However, for this to happen, Man City would need to wait at least until 2029, when Kompany's contract with Bayern expires.

According to former player Dietmar Hamann, Bayern’s decision to extend Kompany’s contract might be a strategic move, preparing for the possibility that Man City will approach him in the future.

Speaking to Sky Germany, Hamann said: "Bayern extended Kompany’s contract until 2029, even though his previous deal still had 20 months left. This wasn’t mandatory, but I understand why they did it. Perhaps Bayern anticipated that Man City would show interest in Kompany at some point, when Pep Guardiola leaves..."

As for Pep Guardiola, the Spanish coach still has a contract with Man City until 2027, after renewing for three more years last November. Therefore, dismissing Pep at this moment is nearly impossible for Man City’s management, despite the team’s inconsistent form over the past year.

Since arriving at Etihad in 2016, Pep Guardiola has truly transformed Man City into a powerhouse in England, leading the team to six Premier Leaguetitles, including a streak of four consecutive wins from 2021 to 2024. Additionally, the 1971-born coach also secured the club’s first-ever Champions League trophy, defeating Inter in the 2023 final.

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