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EXCLUSIVE: Man City eye Fabregas as potential successor to Guardiola
Steve Kay
- Updated: 20 Jun 2025 06:51 BST
- 4 min read
Exclusive
Manchester City are eyeing Cesc Fàbregas as a surprise candidate to succeed Pep Guardiola when the iconic manager eventually leaves the Etihad, FootballTransfers understands.
Fabregas has only just finished his first full season as a manager, after initially being part of the coaching team that got Como promoted to Serie A during the 2023/24 season, and he has already developed a reputation as one of the brightest young coaches in Europe.
Como finished tenth in their first season back in Serie A, with Fabregas drawing praise for his coaching style, leading to interest from teams such as Bayer Leverkusen and Inter looking to hire the Spaniard as their manager.
Fabregas has so far resisted the temptation to make a quick step up to a major club but the 38-year-old’s tactical clarity, calm authority and deep understanding of positional football have impressed senior figures at City, who view him as a standout candidate in their long-term succession planning.
Sources close to Man City have revealed a growing admiration for Fabregas and their thoughts echo the club’s previous approach with Mikel Arteta, who served as Guardiola’s assistant before transitioning into a managerial career at Arsenal.
While Guardiola only recently extended his contract until 2027, there is still a growing acceptance that his time at City may be reaching a natural conclusion and the club are determined to ensure a smooth transition when that time comes, with Fàbregas is emerging as one of the leading names under serious consideration.
City earmark Fabregas as future manager and ‘heir’ to Guardiola era
City’s hierarchy are said to be impressed not just by Fàbregas’s coaching vision, but also by his composure, communication skills, and leadership in building a winning culture at Como.
Fabregas is seen as a ‘natural extension’ of the Guardiola legacy — someone who will understand the club’s tactical DNA and long-term ambitions, while also being immensely familiar with Premier League football after spending more than a decade of his playing career in England with Arsenal and Chelsea.
Like Arteta, Fabregas is a product of Barcelona’s La Masia school of thought, which has heavily influenced Guardiola’s ideology with a strong emphasis on fluid possession, structure and player development.
Though still early in his coaching journey, insiders believe the former midfielder possesses the football intellect and personality to thrive at the highest level and Fabregas is now firmly on City’s radar as a manager of the future, and, potentially a direct heir to Guardiola’s dynasty at the Etihad.
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