Pep Guardiola has been connected with the vacant England manager’s post, having been contacted by the FA about potentially being Gareth Southgate’s long-term successor.
Pep Guardiola might become England’s next manager, and he may have some radical ideas.
The Spaniard is now in charge of Manchester City, with a deal that runs until next summer. The Catalan has been selected by the FA as a potential contender to take over as manager of the Three Lions following Gareth Southgate’s departure after Euro 2024.
Guardiola, who made revolutionary tactical decisions at the Etihad Stadium, would undoubtedly bring some radical ideas to the side. And it might mean a significant revamp in his team choices.
While it may still be difficult to persuade Guardiola to replace interim manager Lee Carsley, Mirror Football has opted to look at the jaw-dropping XI he may choose. Check out our recommendations below:
Goalkeeper: James Trafford
Guardiola has had a harsh attitude to goalkeepers throughout his stint in the Premier League. Following his arrival, he quickly fired long-time Manchester City player Joe Hart.
Claudio Bravo was signed from Barcelona because of his ball skills, but a string of blunders led to his departure. Ederson has been an amazing addition since then.
James Trafford might be one of England’s candidates. The youngster is extremely talented and a product of City’s academy, so he will be well-versed in the style that Guardiola wishes to impose. Despite a difficult few seasons at Burnley, he still has plenty of time to realise his full potential.Left-back: Ben Chilwell
England aren’t exactly fortunate at left-back right now, so it’s impossible to predict which way Guardiola might go. Guardiola may be concerned about Luke Shaw’s fitness, while Tyrick Mitchell and Leif Davies have yet to appear for the Three Lions.
Ben Chilwell might be a viable candidate. While the Chelsea defender has had a difficult season under Enzo Maresca, he remains a highly capable left-back.
City had previously been linked with a deal for Chilwell, and Guardiola has long admired him, so he might emerge as a surprise possibility.
Jarrad Branthwaite is a centre-back
City had previously been connected with Everton’s Branthwaite, among other defenders. Manchester United, their bitter rivals, have also been connected.
Regardless of his future plans, he might become a future option for the Three Lions. Branthwaite may face a tough struggle with Chelsea’s Levi Colwill, but he is undoubtedly a contender.
After all, the 22-year-old has already made his senior debut with the Three Lions. He was also on the longlist for England’s Euro 2024 team, but was cut when the final roster was announced.Center-back – John Stones
Surprisingly, John Stones, the first City player to make the squad, has proven a reliable goalkeeper under Guardiola. The defender has won six Premier League championships, the Champions League, and several other awards.
He is also an important component of the England side, having won 83 caps with the Three Lions. There is only one point of contention concerning his spot, which is his positioning.
Guardiola has frequently used Stones in a hybrid midfield role, so it remains to be seen if he will do so again. However, he appears to be a lock to make the England team for the foreseeable future.
Kyle Walker is a right-back
Kyle Walker, another City defender, has been an important player for both England and his club in recent seasons. He, like Stones, has contributed significantly to Guardiola’s success at the Etihad.
He has 91 Three Lions caps and is still in the squad today. At 34, his international career may not survive long, although it would be surprising if he did not play under Guardiola.
The question of who will take his place on a permanent basis remains. Trent Alexander-Arnold is the obvious choice after his scoring performance against Finland, but Walker will most likely remain under Guardiola for the time being.Midfielder: Declan Rice
Under Guardiola, Rodri has played an important defensive midfield role. Fortunately, if Guardiola is appointed as England’s next manager, he will have plenty of possibilities for that post.
Declan Rice has been a shining light for Arsenal since joining from West Ham. Prior to his transfer to London, the midfielder had been linked with City.
Adam Wharton, Kobbie Mainoo, and even Alexander-Arnold all claim ownership for the double pivot. However, Rice is now the most accomplished player in the position, making him an obvious pick to play a significant role in Guardiola’s new-look England.
Midfield: Jude Bellingham
The current Manchester City manager also uses number eights in more advanced roles, and he has a perfect fit for that post as well. Jude Bellingham is the most exciting player England has produced in years, and it would be a tremendous mistake to leave him out.
He would be positioned somewhat further forward than Rice in Guardiola’s Three Lions formation. And he would be expected to play a similar role to former City captain Ilkay Gundogan.
Bellingham has also had a fantastic year with the Three Lions, scoring four goals in 11 appearances in 2024, and appears to be a strong candidate to stay if Guardiola takes control.
Attacking midfielder – Phil Foden
Foden, the current Premier League Player of the Season, scored 27 goals for Manchester City under Guardiola last season. Guardiola can get him to duplicate those types of performances for England.
Foden has not been as prolific for the Three Lions since his debut in 2020. He has only scored four goals for England so far. If the forward fails to regain his form for England, he will face stiff competition for his spot.
Cole Palmer, a former City star, is waiting in the wings. However, Foden has the potential to win the struggle between the two, at least initially.
Winger: Eberechi Eze
Eberechi Eze, a present and possible future City star, has long been linked with a transfer to the Etihad Stadium. If Kevin De Bruyne leaves in the near future, City are expected to sign him for £68 million.
Eze has thrived for Palace over the last few seasons, culminating to his England debut earlier this year. The wideman has yet to score a goal for the Three Lions and will be aiming to do so under their new manager.
Of course, he may face stiff competition for a starting berth on his national team, but he will benefit from maintaining his current form.
Winger: Bukayo Saka
While England has many of wide alternatives, it appears that Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka will be a consistent starter for the Three Lions for many years to come. The Arsenal youth graduate has simply emerged as one of the Premier League’s greatest in recent seasons.
The 23-year-old had his greatest season in front of goal last season, scoring on 20 times. Despite his youth, Saka already has 43 England caps and appears to be on track to match that total.
Guardiola has previously praised Saka, so it would be surprising to see him excluded from any England squad led by the Spaniard.
Striker: Harry Kane
Potentially the most obvious pick in the entire team, Kane is one of the first names on the England teamsheet – a fact that should remain under any new boss. The Bayern Munich forward is still the Three Lions captain and the nation’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Guardiola has also made previous attempts to sign Kane. The striker was heavily linked with a transfer to Manchester City before opting for a move to Germany, leaving Guardiola to sign Haaland.
That move worked out well for all sides, but it’s difficult to see Guardiola not relishing the opportunity to ultimately manage Kane at some time in his career.
