Odds slashed: Roberto De Zerbi in running to be surprise manager at Premier League club
Roberto De Zerbi has been named in the running for the Man City job in the event of Pep Guardiola’s departure.
Rumours have begun to circulate that the legendary Man City manager is set to leave the Premier League at the end of the season.
Guardiola, who arrived at the Etihad Stadium in 2016, will want to see out a final race for the Premier League title before taking his leave.
Former Brighton boss De Zerbi mutually agreed to leave Marseille this week, after his side were smashed 5-0 by PSG.
The Italian was heavily linked with the Tottenham job, but Igor Tudor has been appointed as an interim manager until the summer.
Roberto De Zerbi among Man City contenders
Of course, Man City retain hope that Guardiola will ultimately decide to extend his stay in the Premier League this summer.
But there is a feeling that the end of his time in England is approaching, with the Spaniard having been in charge of Man City for far longer than he spent at both Barcelona and Bayern Munich combined.
| Pep Guardiola | Man City |
| Wins | 411 |
| Draws | 73 |
| Losses | 90 |
| Scored | 1426 |
| Conceded | 539 |
The 55-year-old has won the Premier League six times and went where no one else had before when he guided the Citizens to Champions League glory in 2023.
It is not clear where Guardiola’s path will take him next, but it certainly would not be to another Premier League club.
The former midfielder may well decide to take a break before embarking on his next challenge, which could come in the form of international management.
De Zerbi features on a long list of potential replacements at Man City, with PSG boss Luis Enrique currently the bookies’ favourite at 2/1.
One major bookmaker has slashed the Italian’s odds to 12/1 in recent days, however.
Who are the other contenders to replace Pep Guardiola?
It will certainly not be easy to replace Guardiola, and decision-makers may target a manager capable of playing a similar style of play to ensure a smooth transition.
De Zerbi’s football is similar in its brave build-up, pressing and quick football, but there are closer fits.
Enrique for one, but Enzo Maresca and Xabi Alonso are also close matches to Guardiola. The former Chelsea boss in particular, having spent time as part of the Man City boss’s staff.
Interestingly, Oliver Glasner has also been mentioned among the contenders to take over at the Etihad Stadium, despite offering a very different style.