Pep Guardiola has suggested he will either take a sabbatical or move into international management when he finally calls time on his reign at Manchester City.
Guardiola has won 18 trophies in eight years at the Etihad Stadium, including six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three EFL Cups and the Champions League in 2022-2023.
He was strongly linked with the England job in the wake of Gareth Southgate's resignation in July, but when Thomas Tuchel succeeded him as coach of the Three Lions, Guardiola committed his immediate future to City last month.
With his previous contract with City set to expire at the end of this season, Guardiola signed an extension to keep him at the Etihad until 2027.
When Guardiola's glorious tenure comes to an end, the Catalan will not immediately move to another club.
Speaking to Spanish chef Dani Garcia on his Desmontadito YouTube channel, Guardiola said: “I want to leave it and play golf, but I can't!
“There will come a time when I feel like enough is enough and then I will definitely stop. I'm not going to manage another club.
“I'm not talking about the longer-term future, but what I'm not going to do is leave Manchester City and go to another country to do the same thing I'm doing now.
“I wouldn't have the energy for that. I'm still here doing what I am now. But the thought of starting somewhere else, with the whole process of training and so on… no, no, no. Maybe a national team, but that's different.
“I should stop, just like these chefs who go to other countries, stop and see what we have done well and what we can do better and when you are busy all day, day in and day out, you don't have time to do I think quitting would do me good.”
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Guardiola's quest to become the first coach in English football history to win five consecutive top-flight titles is at risk of failure even at this early stage of the season.
City are eight points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool after playing an extra game following a run of one win in six league matches (one draw, four losses).
They have struggled to maintain control of matches since losing Ballon d'Or-winning midfielder Rodri to an anterior cruciate ligament injury in September.
City remained unbeaten in the 34 league games the Spaniard played in last season (27 wins, seven draws), but lost three of four without him in 2023/24. Guardiola says it was inevitable his team would suffer without him.
“He has been voted the best player in the world and of course we miss him,” Guardiola added. “Imagine a scenario where Lionel Messi has just been voted the best player in the world and Barcelona has to play without him for a whole year.
“I don't think we would have won the treble or the sextuple without them. These players are unique and they show that unique character, especially in the bad times when the games are going against you.”
“Rodri is on a different level in that regard, so of course we miss him. But time flies and I'm sure he will come back stronger.”
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