FC Barcelona: 6 Candidates to Replace Pep Guardiola If He Leaves This Summer

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Why Pep Guardiola would want to leave Barcelona is a strange one.

The Spaniard has a tendency to sign one-year extensions and is currently unwilling to commit his long-term future to the Catalan giants.

Whether or not this is an indication that he will depart Camp Nou in the near future is unclear, but if he were to leave, replacing a man who has the potential to leave a legacy at the club, would not be the easiest job in the world.

Here are six potential candidates to replace Guardiola, if he does depart.

Luis Enrique

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Enrique could arguably be the choice for many of the Barca faithful.

While he cannot boast the managerial titles of others on this list, he is very similar to Pep Guardiola.

Both began their managerial careers with Barcelona B and were not the most experienced when they took high profile jobs with Barcelona and Roma, respectively.

Enrique would be a risky choice, but the strong relationship between himself and the fans could sway the decision of the board, especially when looking at how successful Guardiola's appointment has been.

Luis Milla

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Luis Milla is already aware of many of Barca's next generation players and having won the Under 21 European Championships with Spain, he may well be looking to try his hand at club management.

He is doing a very good job with the Under 21's, but there is only so much he can do. Club level management should be an aim for Milla and having played for Barca, he will understand the pressure at Camp Nou and may be an ideal candidate with the fans.

Vincente Del Bosque

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Del Bosque's record speaks for itself and he is also one of those rare managers who can boast leading his side to World Cup triumph.

Despite enjoying success with Real Madrid, the manner in which he was dismissed, after winning La Liga and the Champions League, means that he would be unlikely to feel any loyalty to Real Madrid if Barca approached him.

If he wins Euro 2012, he will have accomplished everything at international level and may be looking for one last crack in La Liga.

Joachim Low

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Joachim Low inherited a decent German side when Jurgen Klinsmann departed after the 2006 World Cup.

A semi-final showing on home soil proved that the national team was returning to form, and since Low's appointment they have gone from strength to strength.

Germany have every chance of winning Euro 2012 and the manager has made the side very watchable.

The opportunity for Low to manage a major club in world football is inevitable and it would not surprise me if he ends up at Barca.

Fabio Capello

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The Italian's recent departure from England should not be used to tarnish what has been a brilliant career in club management.

Wherever he has been, at club level he has won major trophies and with the resources available at Barcelona, there is every reason to believe he could have a successful tenure at the club.

Perhaps the only obstacle would be his preference for defensive style football which might make him an unpopular choice with the fans.

Andre Villas-Boas

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This may seem like a strange inclusion, but had this been written last summer, he would have been at the top of many lists.

His time at Chelsea should not erase his success at Porto.

At Stamford Bridge, he had to deal with an aging squad, ruthless ownership and unrealistic expectations.

Villas-Boas should still be viewed as one of the best coaches in Europe and it will not be long before he has proven Chelsea made a big mistake in ending his tenure so early.