Major League Soccer faces a significant question about its future direction after Lionel Messi.
Replicating the Argentinian star's social media impact, record attendances, and global jersey sales will be nearly impossible.
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According to The Guardian, the ultimate solution for soccer in the United States may be targeting an elite manager rather than a player as the league's next crown jewel.
This strategic pivot became highly feasible after Pep Guardiola's official announcement that he will leave Manchester City this summer.
Guardiola's Next Chapter
Guardiola has achieved every possible milestone in European club football, making a transition to a different continent a logical next step.
Upon leaving Manchester City, he will assume a role as a global ambassador for City Football Group, which includes giving technical advice to clubs like MLS's New York City FC.
While Guardiola has been linked to the USMNT coaching job in the past, his immediate plans involve taking a sabbatical to rest.
On Friday, Guardiola shared his current mindset: "I need to breathe a little bit and relax. I will be out for a while."
The timing of his planned break could align with New York City FC moving into its own soccer-specific stadium at Willets Point in Queens.
Guardiola previously spent a year-long sabbatical in New York between his managerial stints at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
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Guardiola biographer Martí Perarnau highlighted the manager's deep connection to the city in his book, Pep Confidential. "New York represented a fresh start," Perarnau wrote.
