Pep Guardiola already third most likely Premier League manager to go next

On Feb 6, 2023

The bookies have made Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola the third most likely manager to depart the division.

The reigning champions have been charged with more than 100 alleged breaches of financial regulations by the Premier League. The charges concerned, start all the way back in the 2009/10 campaign and go all the way up to the 2017/18 season, when the former Barcelona boss won his first Premier League title.

However, when news initially broke that City were under investigation in 2019, Guardiola hinted he would depart the club if they were ever found guilty. And in the midst of the jaw dropping news concerning the Citizens, Guardiola has been placed very high in the list of managers who could leave.

Only under-fire Southampton boss Nathan Jones and Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch are ranked above him in the table. Betfair have placed the four time Premier League winner at 11/2 to be the next boss to leave the position.

“Following the news of Man City being charged with breaking numerous financial rules, Pep Guardiola is now odds-on to leave the Etihad before the start of next season,” a spokesperson from Betfair said. “Odds on Guardiola to be the next Premier League manager to leave their role have been slashed to 11/2 from 100/1 on Monday morning.

“Meanwhile, the Spaniard is 6/4 to remain in charge of Man City for their first game of the 2023/24 season. Looking at where Guardiola could manage next, Barcelona are 3/1, with Newcastle 4/1 and the England men’s national team 8/1.”

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City’s season, and maybe, their future as a whole, is hanging by a thread
(Image: Getty Images)

As well as the current uncertainty surrounding City, Guardiola’s previous comments in 2019 have also fuelled his ascent up the table of likely managerial departures. When the investigation initially began, Guardiola appeared to suggest he would leave the club if City were ever found guilty. “Why did I defend the club and the people? It’s because I work with them,” Guardiola said in 2019.

“When they are accused of something I ask them: ‘Tell me about that.’ They explain and I believe them. I said to them: ‘If you lie to me, the day after I am not here’.

“‘I will be out and I will not be your friend any more. I put my faith in you because I believe you 100 percent from day one and I defend the club because of that.’”