Michail Antonio: Vincent Kompany could succeed Pep Guardiola as Man City boss

Heinrich Griessel
14 October 2023

West Ham forward Michail Antonio has backed Burnley boss Vincent Kompany to take over at Manchester City when Pep Guardiola leaves.

Guardiola's current City contract is due to expire at the end of the 2024/25 season, and some have already speculated around potential successors.

Antonio has weighed in on the conversation with a surprising suggestion that former City captain Kompany could take over the reins in two years.

At 37 the Belgian has only been in management for three years, having taken over at Anderlecht in 2020, and is still finding his feet in the Premier League with Burnley.

However, Antonio has confidence in Kompany's ability to give a good account of himself at the Etihad.

"Honestly. I believe [Kompany] that he will be the next Man City manager. That's what I think anyway, if Pep ever steps down and he keeps doing well at Burnley. I feel like that is the next step," Antonio said in a recent episode of The Footballer's Football Podcast.

"The difference between David Moyes at Man United and Vincent Kompany at Man City is that he has good stead himself there, so when he is going in, he should be able to speak to them and go 'I'm not Pep, I'm coming in and want to bring a new philosophy.

"I want to bring in my own philosophy right now, Pep's philosophy is still instilled in the club, so for me to change it there is going to be some difficult times.'

"As long as he can have the conversation which I feel he should be able to as he has been there so long, he is an actual Man City legend himself.

"I feel he could go in there and give himself a good opportunity - maybe two or three years - before they feel they have to get rid, unless he goes in and has an absolute stinker, which I don't think he will."