Pep Guardiola has reportedly identified Roberto De Zerbi as the ideal candidate to succeed him as Manchester City manager once he leaves the club. Since joining City in 2016, Guardiola has led the team to remarkable success, including five Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy, making the task of following in his footsteps a daunting challenge.
However, according to a report from *The Telegraph* in October, Guardiola believes De Zerbi, the former Brighton manager, has the qualities necessary to take over at the Etihad when the time comes. After a 1-1 draw between City and Brighton earlier that year, Guardiola reportedly pointed to De Zerbi while walking down the Amex Stadium tunnel and told three Brighton players, “That’s the next Man City manager.”
Guardiola has previously praised De Zerbi, calling him “one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years” ahead of their May 24, 2023 clash. He explained, “Pay attention to what I’m about to say because I’m convinced in what I’m saying. [Roberto De Zerbi] is one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years. There is no team that plays the way they play, it’s unique.”
Guardiola went on to highlight De Zerbi’s tactical approach, particularly the way his Brighton team dominated possession and created numerous chances, saying, “They create on average 20-25 chances per game. They monopolise the ball in a way that hasn’t been seen for a long time. Everybody is involved – the goalkeeper is like a holding midfielder.”
While De Zerbi left Brighton by mutual agreement after two years in the Premier League, his impact on English football hasn’t gone unnoticed. With Guardiola likely staying at City for the foreseeable future, the possibility remains open for De Zerbi to make a return to the Premier League, potentially as Guardiola’s successor.
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