Former Chelsea Star Mikel John Obi Gives ‘Mental’ Reason Why Pep Guardiola Can’t Coach England
- Mikel John Obi has rejected the idea of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola becoming the next England coach
- The former Nigeria and Chelsea midfielder gave a 'mental' explanation of his assertion on his podcast
- Aside from Guardiola, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerard, Graham Potter and Eddie Howe have been linked with the role
Former Chelsea midfielder Mikel John Obi has chimed in on the rumours swirling around Pep Guardiola possibly taking on the role of England's national team manager.
The Three Lions coaching position became vacant after the 2024 European Championship final, with Gareth Southgate stepping down following England's 2-1 defeat to Spain.
Source: UGC
With Southgate's departure, the English FA is now on the hunt for his replacement, Eurosport reports.
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Among the names being considered are Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe, former Chelsea boss Graham Potter, and immediate-past Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp.
However, the possibility of Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola taking the helm has particularly excited Three Lions fans.
Obi Mikel explains why Guardiola can't manage England
Offering his perspective, Obi Mikel, who spent a significant portion of his career in England, believes Guardiola might not be the perfect fit for the job.
The former Nigerian international suggests that Pep's deep-seated passion for the game and his preference for the week-to-week action of club football might be a hurdle for taking on a national team role.
"I don't see Jurgen taking the job, definitely not. He's a manager who loves a day-to-day kind of job. And Pep as well," the 37-year-old said on his 'The Obi One' podcast, as cited by Tribuna.
"You can't tell Pep to sit for months and months without doing anything. He'll go crazy.
"He'll go mental. We know how much he lives and breathes football," Mikel concluded.
Mikel slams players of African descent
In another report, Legit.ng disclosed that Mikel has urged players of African descent to respect the continent when choosing their international football career path.
The former Chelsea midfielder, who retired in 2022, lamented that footballers with African roots only make the decision to play for the black continent when their preferred country ignores them.
A number of players of African descent currently play for their heritage at the international level, and Mikel expressed concerns.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
