Pep Guardiola has confirmed he plans to step away from football management once his time at Manchester City comes to an end – and has hinted that his sabbatical could last up to 15 years. The 54-year-old Spaniard, who extended his contract with City last year to remain at the club until 2027, opened up about his future in an interview with GQ Spain, saying he has “more than decided” about taking a lengthy break from the game to focus on himself.
“I know that after this stage with City, I’m going to stop – that’s for sure. It’s decided, more than decided,” Guardiola said. “I don’t know how long I’ll stop for – a year, two, three, five, ten, fifteen – I don’t know. But I will leave after this spell with City because I need to stop and focus on myself, on my body.”
The Manchester City manager, widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches of his generation, has enjoyed a historic spell at the Etihad Stadium. Since joining in 2016, he has led the club to 18 major trophies, including six Premier League titles, a Champions League crown, and global success in the FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
However, the 2024-25 season marked a rare low point under Guardiola’s leadership. City ended the campaign without a major trophy for the first time in eight years – finishing third in the Premier League, falling short in the Champions League, and losing the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace.
Reflecting on the scrutiny that comes with the job, Guardiola said: “I’ve spent four or five months this year in every away stadium with the crowd chanting, ‘You’ll be sacked in the morning.’ There’s no other profession – not architects, teachers, doctors, or journalists – where 60,000 people ask you to lose your job.”
Despite the criticism, Guardiola defended his team’s performance over the past season. “It hasn’t been that bad. We reached the FA Cup final and finished third – we didn’t finish 12th,” he said. “Even when I was winning, I didn’t feel we were anything special. Now that we haven’t won, I don’t feel like a failure either.”
Guardiola remains optimistic about City’s future, suggesting that the struggles of the past year could help lay the foundation for long-term success. “This season has been healthy for us. Success can confuse you. I think it will be good for the next five or ten years. And next season, we’ll do better.”
Manchester City begin their 2025-26 campaign away at Wolves on August 16, with Guardiola set to lead the side for what could be his final chapter at the club. Beyond that, the Catalan coach appears ready to step away from the spotlight – perhaps for much longer than expected.
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