Credit: Imago

Harri Burton

Fri 20 March 2026 8:30, UK Updated Fri 20 March 2026 10:01, UK

Follow us on Google Discover

Manchester City will have to plan for life without Pep Guardiola, and Vincent Kompany and Enzo Maresca have emerged as potential replacements.

Both are disciples of the Catalan, having worked for or alongside the former Barcelona midfielder, with Kompany going on to thrive at Bayern Munich, while the latter has had spells with Chelsea and Leicester City.

Guardiola has become a God-like figure at the Etihad Stadium since he arrived in 2016, finally delivering the elusive Champions League title, as well as six Premier League trophies.

As Football Insider exclusively revealed on Friday, Vincent Kompany is now the top choice to lead the post-Guardiola era.

Although Guardiola is contracted at Man City until the summer of 2027, there is growing fear that this could be the 55-year-old’s final season at the club, with contenders already emerging to take his place.

Vincent Kompany’s free-flowing attack vs Enzo Maresca’s methodical build-up

In the Premier League with Burnley, Kompany would often use a 2-2-6 formation while attacking, keeping his two centre-backs protected by midfielders, while his full-backs joined the attack.

Although he has been known to use that in the Bundesliga, he appeared to have fallen back on a 3-2-5 formation, keeping one of his full-backs in defence to ensure more cover.

The Belgian is all about freedom and pace when it comes to attacking and the build-up of play, allowing his players to express themselves, while Maresca is all about positional control.

Kompany appears to benefit more in the attacking third from his style of play, but given that his stats are from the Bundesliga, everything needs to be taken into account by the Man City hierarchy.

Bayern Munich manager’s football is closest to Pep Guardiola

Out of possession, although Kompany’s side has a very high press, it can often drop into a mid-block, relying on physical duels and recovery runs rather than interceptions or tackles.

The Blues, under Maresca’s leadership, on the other hand, would use more tackles, keeping their shape all over the pitch, and have their press triggered based on cues.

Maresca needs players to fit his system precisely, whereas Kompany trusts his players to do their individual roles, with the Bayern boss’ system slightly changing depending on his squad.

It can be suggested that Kompany is much closer to Guardiola in terms of his play being structured, yet pragmatic and more direct, while Maresca is all about position and control.

Clearly, either manager would be a suitable candidate to succeed Guardiola, but filling the Catalan’s shoes will be a completely different task altogether.