Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola WAS offered the England job according to Guillem Balague, who believes the Spaniard could still manage the Three Lions in the future
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola WAS offered the England job according to Guillem Balague, who believes the Spaniard could still manage the Three Lions in the future Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola WAS offered the England job according to Guillem Balague, who believes the Spaniard could still manage the Three Lions in the future
Pep Guardiola would favour taking over at England ahead of the 2030 World Cup despite recently declining an offer from the FA, says Guillem Balague.
The Manchester City chief, 53, emerged as the red-hot favourite for the role in the days leading up to Thomas Tuchel’s appointment earlier this month. And his long-term future remains unclear with his contract at The Etihad this summer.
It’s thought Guardiola is now leaning towards signing another contract extension with the Premier League champions. But he has made no secret of his desire to manage a national team in the future – and Balague, who is a close friend of the Spaniard, reckons England would be his top choice when the time does come.
Balague also revealed that the FA actually offered Guardiola the England job, which was vacated by Gareth Southgate in July. He remains undecided over his next move.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Balague said: “He actually was offered the job. He thought about it for two months. And after two months he said, ‘No because I don’t even know what I’m going to do at the end of this season’.”
“Manchester City right now feel he’s closer to staying than leaving but nobody really knows.”
Tuchel signed an 18 month contract after talks with the FA and will lead England for the 2026 World Cup. The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager was also linked with the Manchester United job before agreeing to become the Three Lions new head coach.
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New England head coach Thomas Tuchel signed an 18 month contract earlier this month
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Image:
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Balague went on to talk about Guardiola’s future plans, and the Spanish football expert reckons that the England job would appeal above all others ahead of the 2030 World Cup – if all parties were still keen on making the idea happen.
He teased: “What seems clear is that in the cycle from the next World Cup to the following one in 2030, Guardiola will have a national side – and England are favourites.”
Balague then hastily added: “If Tuchel wins the World Cup, forget that plan!”
Guardiola was reluctant to comment when he was asked about the England job last week. He said matter of factly in a press conference: “Thomas Tuchel is the manager, so forget about it. I’m the manager of Manchester City, so the conversations I have are about Manchester City. This is what it is. Tuchel is the manager already, Thomas is that. This is the most important, the rest is not important.”
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