Frank Christian
Change is on the horizon for Manchester City as a significant departure approaches.
Recently, The Athletic disclosed that Txiki Begiristain will resign from his position as director of football after serving the club for 13 years.
On Friday, The Daily Mail revealed that Hugo Viana, who is currently with Sporting CP, is set to take over Begiristain’s role.
Viana, who previously played for Braga and Newcastle, is expected to begin his new position in early 2025, allowing time for a transition alongside Begiristain.
Manchester City has yet to make an official announcement regarding Viana’s appointment, which may be important to expedite, especially since Sporting will face City in the Champions League on November 5.
What’s Next for Pep Guardiola?
Pep Guardiola’s contract with Manchester City will expire at the conclusion of the 2024/25 season.
Begiristain is not only a pivotal figure within the club but also a close associate of Guardiola, dating back to their shared experiences at Barcelona during the 1990s.
His encouragement helped Guardiola secure the Barcelona head position, despite his limited coaching background at Barcelona B. This marked the beginning of a transformative era for the club.
Begiristain also played a crucial part in convincing Guardiola to join Manchester City from Bayern Munich in 2016. Under his leadership, City has enjoyed unparalleled success, claiming six out of the last seven Premier League titles, six domestic cups, and their first UEFA Champions League as part of a historic treble in 2022/23.
Guardiola has renewed his contract three times while at City, with the last two two-year extensions signed during the November international breaks in 2020 and 2022.
Earlier this month, fans displayed a banner in Catalan urging Guardiola to remain, during a Premier League match against Fulham that ended 3-2 in City’s favor.
Who Might Succeed Pep Guardiola?
With Viana’s imminent arrival, Ruben Amorim’s name has surfaced as a potential candidate to succeed Guardiola.
The strong alignment between Begiristain as director of football and Guardiola as manager has been vital for the team’s ongoing success.
In 2020, Viana was instrumental in bringing Amorim to Sporting from Braga. This move revitalized Sporting, guiding them to their first league title in 19 years in the 2020/21 season, with a repeat championship last season.
Amorim was previously rumored to be a target for Liverpool to fill their managerial vacancy, although they ultimately chose Arne Slot as Jurgen Klopp’s successor. He now stands as a strong contender to succeed another influential coach in the Premier League.
