'Always going out to win games' - David Silva tells Pep Guardiola to take shock job after Manchester City exit as Catalan considers future

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Former Manchester City star David Silva has outlined the one role he'd like to see Pep Guardiola take on in the future. The Spaniard is approaching 10 years at the Etihad Stadium helm having signed a two-year contract extension last November. And Silva, who played for City between 2010 and 2020, believes he knows what is next for his compatriot when he decides to leave City.

Guardiola quashed long-term City concerns

There were concerns that Guardiola would leave Manchester City this time last year as his Cityzens side struggled in the Premier League. However, despite their domestic and continental shortcomings, Pep put pen to paper on a two-year contract extension to take him through to 2027.

City would go on to finish the season in third and end the campaign trophyless for the first time in eight years following their FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace. And City haven't made a great start to 2025/26, winning only three of their opening six league matches.

Manchester City v Burnley - Premier League

City have backed Guardiola in club rebuild

Even so, Guardiola has been backed heavily across the two transfer windows in 2025, splashing the cash to bring in the likes of Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Gianluigi Donnarumma in January and the summer.

Yet despite his long-standing dedication to City, Silva has outlined what he'd like to see Guardiola do next in his managerial career.

'It would be good to have Pep in the future'

Silva has revealed that he'd like to see Guardiola branch out into international football, and specifically take over from Spain boss Luis de la Fuente in the future. De la Fuente oversaw La Roja's Euro 2024 success last summer as they beat England 2-1 in the final.

And while Silva praised De la Fuente, the former midfielder is keen to see how the City boss would set this Spain side up.

"I'd like to see him as Spain's manager. Luis de la Fuente is doing a phenomenal job now, but it would be good to have Pep in the future," Silva said.

"He could bring a style of football based on good ball control and always going out to win games. A bit like the philosophy of the current Spanish national team."

Manchester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Premier League

'If we're talking about the top five, David is one of them'

Silva played under Guardiola for City for four years before leaving the club for Real Sociedad in 2020, and the current City boss has previously lavished praise upon the former Spain international.

"I'd only say that he has to be proud for all that he has achieved in football because he has been consistent and, especially at this club, he will be always remembered as one of the biggest, biggest, biggest players ever to wear the Man City shirt," Guardiola said in a City TV documentary about Silva.

"If we're talking about the top five, David is one of them, and I don't say that lightly."

'Now I feel fine, I would say'

Guardiola, though, has previously stated he is happy at City and talked up the possibility of remaining at the club beyond his two-year contract. "I have two more years, maybe I'll extend two more years. So the question is when I will stop in this year or in two years, or in four years, I will take a break. But now I feel fine, I would say," he told Men in Blazers in August.

De la Fuente, meanwhile, signed a new deal in January to continue in his role as Spain boss until after Euro 2028. The European champions have made a fine start to World Cup 2026 qualification, picking up six points from their opening two matches and scoring nine goals in the process.

They have further fixtures against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkiye to come they bid to return to the tournament they last won in 2010. In 2022, Spain reached the Round of 16, and were, incredibly, beaten by Morocco on penalties. A much better showing is expected next summer.