Reasons Guardiola’s legacy may surpass that of Ferguson, Wenger, and Klopp

Upon Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure from Manchester United in 2013, he did so with a Premier League winners’ medal adorning his neck. However, the downside was that he had extracted every last ounce from an aging squad, resulting in a challenging transition for his successor David Moyes, from which United has yet to fully recover.

Jurgen Klopp did not exit Liverpool as a champion when he left Anfield two years ago, but he did hand over a squad in good condition, as demonstrated by their title victory a year after his departure.

When Arsène Wenger stepped down at Arsenal in 2018, he left neither the Premier League trophy nor the players capable of winning it. Significant changes have been necessary from Mikel Arteta to re-establish them as serious contenders.

It is evident that transitioning from a long-serving manager can be a complex process.

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Manchester City may be on the verge of experiencing a similar situation as United, Liverpool, and Arsenal, with uncertainties surrounding Pep Guardiola’s future in August. Should he depart, he would be in a somewhat unique position in the Premier League era, potentially leaving with a title and a squad that, in theory, is poised for further improvement.

While not officially confirmed, there is an increasing sentiment within City that Guardiola may leave at the season’s end. The 55-year-old is contracted until June 2027, but there was surprise when the extension he signed in November 2024 was for two years instead of just one.

It would not be surprising if he does not complete the final year of his contract.

There is unlikely to be any formal announcement while City remains in the hunt for trophies; Guardiola has consistently aimed to minimize distractions.

The victory over Arsenal on Sunday has reduced the title race gap to three points with five matches remaining, and City also has a game in hand. With an FA Cup semifinal against Championship side Southampton approaching on Saturday, there remains a chance to secure a domestic treble following their triumph over the Gunners in the Carabao Cup in March.

Even Ferguson did not exit in such a manner.

Ferguson also departed United with the club on the verge of a challenging transition. His title win in 2012-13 was achieved with a squad heavily reliant on an older core, including Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and Robin van Persie. Only Carrick remained on the roster beyond 2015.

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Giggs recently mentioned on a podcast with Ferdinand that: “Another indicator of a good manager is the team he leaves behind.”

Ferguson’s successor, Moyes, made numerous errors, but his challenge was exacerbated by the squad he inherited.

Guardiola has approached it differently. He has overseen the exit of several seasoned players over the past 18 months, including Éderson, Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gündogan, and Kevin De Bruyne.

In their stead, Guardiola has integrated younger talents such as Marc Guéhi, Josko Gvardiol, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico O’Reilly, Antoine Semenyo, and Rayan Cherki.

The average age of the City squad this season is 26.1, while the average age of the starting XI against Arsenal on Sunday was even lower, at 25.3.

Regardless of whether Guardiola stays or departs, further investment in the squad is anticipated this summer. However, any expenditures will be directed towards addressing specific needs, such as a midfielder to replace the departing Bernardo Silva and potentially a right back, rather than implementing sweeping changes. The groundwork for City’s next team is already established.

Guardiola has indicated that City will be improved next season. This has sparked some optimism among fans that he may choose to benefit from the enhancement himself rather than pass the opportunity to a successor—whether that be his former assistant Enzo Maresca (currently without a job after leaving Chelsea) or another candidate.

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He has previously postponed plans to leave, most notably when he signed a second extension in November 2022, and one more attempt at winning the UEFA Champions League might be appealing.

City has always maintained a relaxed stance regarding Guardiola’s future, believing that their relationship is robust enough that he would consider what is best for the club alongside his own interests. This is one reason there were no internal concerns about his potential departure last summer—despite a relatively disappointing season—because he recognized that a transition during a summer that included the FIFA Club World Cup would be challenging for the club to navigate.

Whenever Guardiola decides to depart, it will be a significant loss for City.

The club has been shaped around his vision since his arrival in 2016, resulting in a substantial collection of silverware. He could potentially leave as a champion while also bequeathing a team capable of achieving more in the future.

And that is something even Premier League legends like Ferguson, Klopp, and Wenger were unable to accomplish.