Will Pep Guardiola really be in charge of the England national team.
England are full of the best members in history. It is full of talented players such as Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice. But England still haven't quenched their thirst for victory. They had great chances in the last Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, but both finished second. Eventually, Gareth Southgate, who has performed the best among the national team coaches for the past 60 years, stepped down.
Lee Kasley, who showed off his presence in the U-21 national team, stepped up as a temporary coach, but he lost to 48th-ranked Greece in the FIFA rankings at home, and his dream of becoming a full-time coach seems to be moving away.
The manager that the England Football Association wants is clear. Guardiola is the manager of Manchester City. Guardiola is a top master who needs no explanation. He led Manchester City to the championship last season and won four consecutive games. It's a great achievement that former coach Alex Ferguson couldn't even achieve at Manchester United. In the 2022-2023 season, he also succeeded in winning the much-anticipated European Champions League and achieved a treble. He has been cruising early this season, showing a strong performance.
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Guardiola, who was hired by Manchester City in the summer of 2016, achieved the heyday of Manchester City. Guardiola, who changed the paradigm of soccer with his own clear philosophy in Barcelona and Bayern Munich, ended at Manchester City. Manchester City won the strongest team by catching both the process and the result. Guardiola's contract with Manchester City expires after this season. There is no sign of renewal yet. The English Football Association plans to appoint Guardiola to take advantage of this situation.
A full-fledged move has also begun. On the 14th (Korea time), The Times reported 'There are rumors that Guardiola will become the next head coach of the English national soccer team. The FA had already contacted Guardiola unofficially ahead of this season, it reported. If Guardiola decides to end his trip with Manchester City, it will be a priority option. Guardiola said he had not yet answered the FA's offer.
On the same day, British Express reported 'Guardiola's decision to resign was imminent. Man City set potential date for Guardiola resignation...' reports. Then 'Man City is currently being judged on 115 financial fair play (FFP) violations. According to sources inside, Guardiola's decision to resign is imminent. Guardiola will not delay this decision until 2025. To have enough time for a new director, a transition to a new era, he explained.
Guardiola recently appeared on an Italian TV show and said that rumors about him going to England are not true. I'm the manager of Man City. I haven't decided anything"I dismiss it, but "I don't know because everything can happen, but I still have to ponder and decide what I want to do." Guardiola did not hide his greed for the national team coach earlier this year. He wants to train the national team for the World Cup or the European Championship"I don't know where you're going to want me. To take on the national team, you have to have a team that wants me like a club. Now, I want to experience the World Cup, the Euro, and the Copa America."
On the 14th, The Athletic analyzed whether the English Football Association's ambitious plan was realistic. For now, Guardiola acknowledged that he was the best choice. The Athletic said: "'England no longer need a manager who is good at responding. We need a tactician with extensive knowledge. Guardiola has the respect of the players and knows the situation of England better than anyone else. From Guardiola's point of view, if he succeeds in the English national team, he can perfect his career. The English national team is full of great members, so it's not a situation where you have to start from the bottom. It is Guardiola's specialty that completes a strong but imperfect team.
The problem is money, too. Guardiola is currently paid 26.1 million euros a year by Manchester City. Southgate's last annual salary was 5 million euros. Even if the English Football Association more than doubles, Guardiola has to give up a lot. In addition, the atmosphere in which the world's soccer community has recently turned toward its own coach, not a foreign coach, is also burdensome. According to The Athletic, Greece is the only foreign coach to win the World Cup and Euro tournaments in the last 20 years.
Whether Guardiola will take the helm of England is attracting the eyes and ears of British soccer fans.
vanbasten@sportschosun.com
