Pep Guardiola is one of the most successful managers in football history.
Image credit: Fabrizio Romano
Pep Guardiola, one of the most decorated managers in modern football, has announced that his current role at Manchester City will be his final managerial position in club football.
The 53-year-old Spaniard, who has been with City since 2016, revealed his plans during a conversation with celebrity chef Dani Garcia on YouTube.
“I’m not going to manage another team,” Guardiola declared, shutting down any speculation about a potential move to another club. “I’m not talking about the long-term future, but what I’m not going to do is leave Manchester City, go to another country, and do the same thing as now.”
Guardiola, who recently signed a two-year contract extension with City, keeping him at the club until 2027, admitted that he lacks the energy to begin anew elsewhere.
I wouldn’t have the energy. The thought of starting somewhere else, all the process of training and so on. No, no, no.
However, the door remains open for a possible stint as a national team coach. “Maybe a national team, but that’s different,” he added. “I want to leave it and go and play golf, but I can’t. I think stopping would do me good.”
A Legacy of Success
Since taking charge at Manchester City, Guardiola has won 15 major trophies, further cementing his legacy as one of the greatest football managers of all time.
Prior to his tenure at City, Guardiola enjoyed significant success at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, making his stay at City the longest managerial spell of his career.
His influence at City has been transformative, turning the club into a dominant force in English football. Yet, Guardiola is candid about the challenges of maintaining success:
“Right now we are not in the position – when we have had the results of the last seven, eight games – to talk about winning games in plural,” he said at a pre-match news conference. “We have to win the game and not look at what happens in the next one yet.”
The Road Ahead
City’s form since Guardiola extended his contract has been mixed, with only one win in their last nine games. That victory came against Nottingham Forest last Wednesday, but it was followed by a 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace over the weekend.
The team now faces Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday and will host Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.
Despite the recent challenges, Guardiola remains focused on immediate goals rather than long-term outcomes. “We have to win the game,” he emphasized, “and not look at what happens in the next one yet.”
A Future Beyond Club Football
Guardiola’s remarks have sparked intrigue about his future. The possibility of him transitioning to international football coaching aligns with his desire for a slower-paced career.
His acknowledgment of burnout from club football offers a rare glimpse into the personal toll of managing at the highest level.
For now, Manchester City fans can rest assured that Guardiola is committed to their club until at least 2027. However, his recent statements confirm that an era in club football will end when he eventually steps away from the Etihad Stadium.
With a trophy cabinet bursting with accolades and a footballing philosophy that has reshaped the game, Guardiola’s eventual departure will mark the end of a chapter not just for Manchester City but for the sport itself.