As it seems like Txiki Begiristain is set to leave Manchester City, the club will be on the lookout for sporting directors to replace him.
Begiristain is reported to leave Manchester City in 2025 — a move that means that by the end of the ongoing season, the club will have a brand-new sporting director.
The Spaniard, who joined City in 2012 has been responsible for signing several of the club’s greatest-ever players such as Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson Moraes, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan to name a few.
With the 60-year-old’s tremendous track record of recruiting players, it is essential for Manchester City to appoint a rightful successor to his throne.
It has been reported that Pep Guardiola’s future is not linked to Txiki Begiristain and in case the former extends his contract at City, it would become increasingly important for the club to make the right hire.
Sporting CP’s director of football Hugo Viana is the “favourite” to replace Begiristain at Manchester City — according to Fabrizio Romano’s revelation on Tuesday.
New Man City sporting director target to replace Txiki Begiristain
However, City are yet to finalise their decision.
Manchester City will be working diligently to ensure the succession plan in place leads to Txiki Begiristain’s absence not being felt.
After Michael Edwards initially left Liverpool, the likes of Julian Ward and Jorg Schmadtke did not prove to be rightful heirs to his throne on a long-term basis.
As a result, both Ward and Schmadtke spent short stints at the club where their track record did not match Edwards’, who returned to Anfield as the club’s chief executive of football.
The Englishman went on to bring in Richard Hughes from AFC Bournemouth this summer.
It seems like City now have another target for their soon-to-be vacant sporting director role.
According to a report by The Telegraph, Andoni Zubizarretta, who is Porto’s sporting director has admirers at Manchester City.
However, it remains unknown whether the Sky Blues have contacted the 62-year-old yet.
Zubizarretta was Pep Guardiola’s teammate at Barcelona and in the Spanish national team.
Manchester City are also believed to rate the work of Girona’s sporting director Quique Carcel but he is expected to stay put at the Spanish club.
Who is Andoni Zubizarretta?
As a player, Andoni Zubizaretta is regarded as one of Spain’s greatest-ever goalkeepers.
So much so that Zubizaretta is Spain’s most-capped (126 appearances) player in their history.
The veteran replaced Txiki Begiristain as Barcelona’s sporting director.
Zubizaretta has worked at Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao, Marseille and Porto.
Some of his greatest-ever signings emerged at Barcelona, including Neymar, Luis Suarez, Thierry Henry, Jordi Alba and Javier Mascherano.
