Pep Guardiola could quit Man City for ‘dream’ Holland job with talks already taking place

Pep Guardiola could be offered the chance to follow in the footsteps of mentor Johan Cruyff by managing Holland, according to reports. The Manchester City boss has made clear that he wants to manage a national team in the future. 

Guardiola has a contract at City until 2023, when it is widely expected that he will end his trophy-laden spell with the reigning Premier League champions.  

Under the Barcelona icon, City have three league titles, four consecutive EFL Cups, and an FA Cup. They were also Champions League runners-up last term.  

He has overseen the most successful era in the club’s history. 

Guardiola has been linked with a departure as he approaches the final 18 months of his contract. 

JUST IN: Gerrard speaks out on Luis Suarez to Aston Villa transfer rumours

The 51-year-old has often hinted that he will depart the Etihad Stadium outfit at the end of the 2022-23 campaign. He will then take a break from football. 

But his next move has apparently already been earmarked. According to the Sunday Mirror, Guardiola will be approached by the Dutch FA about taking the job as national team coach. 

Guardiola’s mentor is the legendary Dutch tactician Cruyff, who managed Barca between 1988 and 1996. He is considered a disciple of Cruyff’s ‘Total Football’ style and would consider the opportunity to manage the Oranje a ‘dream’.  

And Guardiola has previously hinted that he would like to challenge himself on the international stage. “The next step will be a national team, if the opportunity presents itself,” he said last year. 

“Without him I wouldn’t be here. I know for sure this is why I am, right now, the manager of Manchester City and before that Bayern Munich and Barcelona. 

“I would not be able to do what he did. You hear all these people saying: ‘Oh Pep, what a good manager he is.’ Forget about it.  

“Cruyff was the best, by far. Creating something new is the difficult part. To make it and build it and get everyone to follow? Amazing.  

“That’s why, when I was Barcelona manager, I went to see Johan many times. I made especially sure I went a lot in my first year when we won everything, absolutely everything.”