‘Not Sure How Long I’ll Pause’: Pep Guardiola Confirms Hiatus From Football After Leaving Man City
Pep Guardiola has once again emphasized that he intends to take a notable break from football following his departure from Manchester City in 2027.
Guardiola, known for keeping to his word, reaffirmed in a recent interview that he will step away from management once his spell at the Etihad Stadium concludes. The 54-year-old Spaniard, who has become the most decorated coach in Manchester City’s history, has secured 18 major titles, including six Premier League trophies and one UEFA Champions League.
Though his current agreement with the club runs through 2027, Guardiola made it clear during a conversation with GQ Spain that he will be stepping back from football management afterward.
“I know that when this chapter with City finishes, I’m going to take a break, that’s certain,” Guardiola stated. “It’s decided, very much decided.”
“I don’t know the duration of the break — one year, two, three, five, ten, fifteen — I really don’t know. But after my time with City ends, I’ll step away because I need to take care of myself, to focus on my health and well-being.”
Back in May, Guardiola had already hinted at his departure, noting that he planned to move on once his contract reached its conclusion.
Even though he extended his contract as recently as November, the ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager appears firm in his plan to take a hiatus when the current cycle ends.
“I’ve spent four or five months this year in every away stadium hearing fans chant, ‘You’ll be sacked in the morning. You’re getting fired,’” he remarked.
“There’s no other profession — not architects, not teachers, not doctors, not journalists — where 60,000 people demand your dismissal.”
Last season brought challenges both on and off the field.
Manchester City were hit hard by injuries, including a critical setback in September when Ballon d’Or winner Rodri sustained an ACL tear in his right knee. The team also suffered their earliest UEFA Champions League elimination since the 2012–13 season and finished third in the Premier League — a significant drop from their prior dominance.
Guardiola admitted that some form of decline was inevitable.
“When you’ve won six league titles, a dip is bound to happen. That’s just human nature… It’s a cycle that needed to occur. It took a while to arrive, and when it did, it hit harder than we imagined.”
Despite the recent struggles, Guardiola remains hopeful about both the immediate future and the club’s long-term trajectory.
“From Manchester City’s perspective, this has been a healthy experience,” he said. “Because consistent success can blur your vision. It hadn’t done so for years, but this season, injuries really affected us.”
He further suggested that the adversity could help shape a stronger future.
“I believe this will benefit the club over the next five or ten years. And next season, we’ll come back stronger.”
