JAKARTA - Pep Guardiola has reaffirmed that he will take a break from the coaching world after leaving Manchester City. He admitted that the break could last up to 15 years.
The 54-year-old Spaniard is the most successful manager in the history of The Citizens, having won 18 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League.
His contract expires in 2027. While Guardiola has yet to determine when he will leave the club, he once again claims that his leave has been decided.
"I know that after this stage with Manchester City, I will quit, that's for sure. It has been decided, more than just decided."
"I don't know how long I will be out, a year, two years, three years, five, 10, 15, I don't know."
"However, I will leave after this Manchester City period because I need to stop for a moment and focus on myself, on my body," Guardiola told GQ Spain.
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Guardiola, who signed a contract extension in November 2024, has just gone through a difficult season at Manchester City.
They finished without a trophy for the first time since Guardiola took over in 2016.
"I've spent four or five months this year in every away stadium with spectators screaming that I'm going to be sacked tomorrow morning."
"There are no other professions, architects, teachers, doctors, journalists, where 60,000 people are asking you to lose your job."
"When you win six Premier Leagues, it's time for you to fall. That's human nature."
"It was a process that had to happen, it happened, it took longer to happen. When that happened, the impact was deeper than we could have imagined," said Guardiola.
Injuries hit Manchester City in the 2024/2025 season, with the team losing the winner of the Ballon d'Or, Rodri, due to a right ACL injury in September 2024.
Manchester City have been eliminated early in the Champions League since the 2012/2013 season and finished third in the Premier League.
However, Guardiola insists that season is not a failure.
"Not that bad. In the end we reached the FA Cup final and finished in third place, we didn't finish in 12th position."
"If we think about it again, we will see that last season was not that bad. However, we did go through months without a win."
"We had 13 or 14 games without a win. That has never happened before," he said.
Guardiola further remains calm in terms of trophies. He also hopes that Manchester City will rise strong in the 2025/2026 season.
"Even when I won, I didn't feel we were special. Now that we haven't won, I don't feel like a failure."
"Talking on behalf of Manchester City, it's great for us because success can be confusing."
"We have never been confused for years, but this year many players have been injured."
"However, I think it will be very good for the next five or 10 years. Next year (season 2025/2026) we will perform better," said the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach.
Manchester City will start the Premier League campaign at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on August 16, 2025.
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