FC Barcelona: The Top 10 Candidates To Ultimately Replace Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola will leave FC Barcelona...eventually. He's said so himself: Being at a club more than one year at a time is something very difficult. 

So, basically, what Pep is trying to say is he'll be a Barça coach as long as the players, the fans and the club management are comfortable with him. The minute that changes though, it's "Find a coach for the Camp Nou bench" all over again. 

If we could ask Laporta if he expected Pep to win two Champions Leagues in his first three years, I'm sure he'd say he didn't expect that kind of success. Especially from a man that had zero games coached in first-level football. 

That said, what are the characteristics that made Pep successful?

To me, there are three intangibles that made Guardiola the perfect candidate: faith in the 4-3-3 playing style, offensive and ball-possession mentality and leadership off the field. 

This list will take those three values as the benchmark on what to look for to find Josep's eventual possible replacements.  

10. Sergio Batista

Nationality: Argentinian

Age: 48

Current Team: Argentina National Team

Teams Managed: Argentina U-20, Argentinos Jrs, Bella Vista, Talleres, Nueva Chicago, Godoy Cruz

Win Percentage: 53.85

Titles Won: 1 Olympic gold medal (2008)

Preferred Formation: 4-3-3 (three central midfielders)

For

Sergio Batista has said he wants Argentina to play like Barcelona, so he certainly likes what Pep has been doing.

Lionel Messi has a good relationship with him, and Batista has been his coach in almost every level with Argentina.

Against

Even though he likes Barça's system, he doesn't understand the importance of possession football and forward pressing.

He uses a 4-3-3, but his three central midfielder variation just doesn't work the way Barça does and the way Batista wants to mimic the Catalans.

Verdict

Batista is a good candidate for sure, but if he can't perfect the system with Argentina, how can we expect him to do it at Barcelona?

He won't be climbing any spots on this list until he does exactly that.

9. Arsene Wenger

Nationality: French

Age: 61

Current Team: Arsenal FC

Teams Managed: Nagoya Grampus, AS Monaco, AS Nancy-Lorraine

Win Percentage: 55.39

Titles Won: 1 League 1 (1988), 1 Coup de France (1991), 1 Emperor's Cup (1995), 1 J-League Super Cup (1996), 3 Premier Leagues (1998, 2001, 2004), 4 FA Cups (1998, 2002, 2003, 2005), 4 Community Shields (1998, 1999, 2002, 2004)

Preferred Formation: 4-4-2

For

Arsene Wenger is one of the most vocal coaches in the world when supporting "offensive and attractive" football.

The Frenchman is also an advocate for creating first-team players from the ground up instead of buying them from other teams.

Against

Arsene just isn't a winning coach. Arsenal fans will blast me for it, but three league wins in 15 years is just poor. I won't even talk about European titles, evidently.

Wenger prefers his "English" 4-4-2 above the 4-3-3 so he'd bring tactical changes to the Camp Nou.

Verdict

It's actually quite simple: Some people see him as a natural replacement to Pep, but I just don't.

Nonetheless, he's still a candidate.

8. Eusebio Sacristán

Nationality: Spanish

Age: 47

Current Team: FC Barcelona B

Teams Managed: Celta de Vigo

Win Percentage: 30.30

Titles Won: 0

Preferred Formation: 4-3-3 (two defensive midfielders)

For

Knows how Barça works inside out after being an assistant coach there for many years.

Was awarded the B team head coaching position this year.

Against

Failed miserably with Celta de Vigo, surrendering the playing style to a two defensive-midfielder setup and leaving possession to opponents.

Not very promising or talented.

Verdict

An extremely boring choice for Barcelona's B team, I don't have to tell you how boring it would be if he were the man in charge of the first team.

His failure at Celta speaks volumes.

That said, he was still given the command of the B team, so it's not unlikely he could make a jump to the first team eventually.

7. Óscar García Junyent

Nationality: Spanish

Age: 38

Current Team: FC Barcelona Juvenil "A"

Teams Managed: N/A

Win Percentage: N/A

Titles Won: 0

Preferred Formation: 4-3-3

For

Óscar García is the most promising coach still at Barcelona not named Pep Guardiola and knows how Barça works inside out.

He had the best season ever with Barcelona Juvenil "A," losing only two games the whole season.

Against

He didn't get the "B" team job for a reason (I hope).

Unproven at pro level.

Verdict

A very talented, young coach and a successful one at youth levels with Barcelona, he would be my undisputed pick to be Barça B's coach already.

He's doing marvellous things with the players he would one day see again as a first-team coach (just like Guardiola did before him).

If he'd been awarded the "B" team, he'd be way higher on this list.

6. Marcelo Bielsa

Nationality: Argentinian

Age: 55

Current Team: Free

Teams Managed: Chile NT, Argentina NT, Espanyol, Vélez Sarsfield, Club América, Club Atlas, Newell's Old Boys

Win Percentage: 56.52

Titles Won: 3 Argentinian Leagues (1991, 1992, 1998), 1 Olympic gold medal (2004)

Preferred Formation: 3-4-3 (wide wingers)

For

Marcelo Bielsa isn't called "El loco" (the madman) for nothing; he's one of the most offensive coaches in the history of football.

He's proven he likes to have the ball and to press teams forward. Sometimes doing it even more aggressively than Pep's Barcelona itself.

Has fantastic leadership and motivation and players trust him both on and off the field.

Against

He would bring his 3-4-3 system to the Camp Nou or would be required to modify his scheme to 4-3-3. Either would be bad.

Hasn't any kind of success in Europe and his Espanyol spell was bad, at best. 

Verdict

If you want an offensive coach, Marcelo Bielsa is the man to get for the job. 

But his offensive style isn't quite the same Barça employs, so there would have to be some adjusting between both parts to make it work.

That's basically the only thing keeping him from moving up higher on this list. 

5. André Villas-Boas

Nationality: Portuguese

Age: 33

Current Team: Chelsea FC

Teams Managed: FC Porto, Académica, Brittish Virgin Islands NT 

Win Percentage: 68.18

Titles Won: 1 Portuguese League (2011), 1 Portuguese Cup (2011), 1 Portuguese Supercup (2011), 1 Europa League (2011)

Preferred Formation: 4-3-3 (one defensive midfielder)

For

André Villas-Boas dedicated his Europa League win to Pep Guardiola himself, so I think it's quite fair to say that he both admires Barça's coach and looks up to the way the Blaugrana play. 

His Porto side employed the exact same formation Barça does: a 4-3-3 with one defensive midfielder. 

Is quite young at 33, still has lots of potential and already has a fantastic winning record to boot.

Against

He signed for Chelsea this offseason and wouldn't come cheap.

Like Mourinho, Villas-Boas likes to change systems if something goes wrong (which might be a good thing).

Verdict

It's quite a shame Villas-Boas has signed for Chelsea because he has everything to be Barça's next coach, but I don't see them paying his clause like the Blues did with Porto.

If it wasn't for this "small" detail, he would take No. 1 for sure. 

4. Rudi Garcia

Nationality: French

Age: 47

Current Team: OSC Lille

Teams Managed: FC Le Mans, FCO Dijon, AS Saint-Etienne

Win Percentage: 44.65

Titles Won: 1 Ligue 1 (2011), 1 French Cup (2011)

Preferred Formation: 4-3-3 (one defensive midfielder)

For

Rudi Garcia has mimicked Barça's 4-3-3 possession/pressing style with OSC Lille, so he should have no problem mimicking it with the actual Barcelona starters.

He favors the development of young players, but that might be because he's never had enough money to buy a good player himself.

Against

Rudi has a very bad winning record (or a very good one, taking into account the clubs he has managed in France).

When in trouble, he does like to bring in defenders and sacrifices playing style when his team is under pressure and against stronger rivals. 

Has no real experience in Europe or in a big club (he might get the first one soon, though).

Verdict

Rudi Garcia is "the new" Arsene Wenger.

He loves attacking football and has built his team up to resemble Barcelona. 

His season in Champions League will be a good measure if he deserves a spot on this list altogether (or if he should be even higher). 

3. Frank De Boer

Nationality: Dutch

Age: 41

Current Team: AFC Ajax

Teams Managed: AFC Ajax

Win Percentage: 73.08

Titles Won: 1 Eredivisie (2011)

Preferred Formation: 4-3-3 (one defensive midfielder)

For

Frank de Boer has only lost two games since taking over Ajax last December and went on to win the Eredivisie. 

The Dutchman has employed the traditional Ajax (and Barça) 4-3-3. 

He was a Barça player himself and Pep Guardiola's teammate, so he understands the environment.

Frank would certainly have Cruyff's support. 

Against

Doesn't have lots of experience (but neither did Guardiola and Rijkaard).

Verdict

Frank de Boer would be suiting for a club with a closely knit history of successful Dutch coaches. 

Like Rudi Garcia, it will be fun to see him in the Champions League against superior talent. 

2. Luis Enrique

Nationality: Spanish

Age: 41

Current Team: AS Roma

Teams Managed: FC Barcelona B

Win Percentage: 47.62

Titles Won: 0

Preferred Formation: 4-3-3 (one defensive midfielder)

For

Luis Enrique would grab the first plane from Roma to Barcelona if he was offered the job.

He knows the team and Barça style inside out and like Pep when he took over, had a fantastic run as the B team's coach.

Believes in the team's philosophy and knows its environment both as a coach and as a player (like Guardiola did).

Against

Has no first level experience (like Guardiola).

Has no titles at all (like Guardiola).

Verdict

He's very much Guardiola rebooted, then. 

The reason I don't put him No. 1 is that I personally don't believe thunder strikes in the same place twice.

Ask Laporta or Guardiola himself if they expected to win two Champions Leagues in three years. 

Yeah, didn't think so...

1. Luis Milla

Nationality: Spanish

Age: 45

Current Team: Spain U21

Teams Managed: Spain U19, Spain U20

Win Percentage: 68.97

Titles Won: 1 UEFA U21 Euro (2011)

Preferred Formation: 4-3-3 (one defensive midfielder)

For

Uses the Barça 4-3-3 and the possession/forward pressing combo...Check.

Has a winning mentality and knows Barça's youth players inside out...Check. 

Believes in the team's philosophy and favors attacking football...Check. 

Knows the environment by previously playing in the Camp Nou...Check. 

Has won a title and has a winning record... Check.

Against

 Has no first-level or club experience. 

Verdict

Luis Milla is the man I like for the job. 

He's fresh off winning the U21 Euro with Spain, and did so mimicking Barça all the way. He even uses Juan Mata as a "false nine."

I see him as an ideal fit for Barcelona if Pep decides to call it quits; he just has everything you need in a Blaugrana coach and even has a "Guardiola aura" to him as well. 

Milla is my No. 1 candidate to replace Pep Guardiola.