Pep Guardiola, the most successful manager in Manchester City’s history, has once again reiterated his firm intention to quit coaching after his contract at Manchester City ends.
In an interview with GQ España, the 54-year-old Spaniard revealed his decision is “more than decided” and confirmed he will step away from the dugout, possibly for good, when his current contract expires in 2027.
“I know that after this stage with Manchester City I’m going to stop, that’s for sure; it’s decided, more than decided,” Guardiola said. “I’m going to leave after this stage with City because I need to stop and focus on myself, on my body.”
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Guardiola, widely regarded as one of the greatest managers in football history, has won 18 trophies with Manchester City, including six Premier League titles and a long-awaited Champions League crown. Yet the relentless pressure of elite coaching has taken its toll.
“The job of a coach is 24/7. The pressure on your shoulders is enormous. A friend once told me I have three states as a person: euphoric, depressed, and absent. The key is to try to stay in the middle.”
The Catalan also opened up about the physical and emotional strain of the job, joking, “As I am now, I’m 75 years old… Everything hurts right now.”
Despite the exhaustion, Guardiola still finds beauty in failure and imperfection.
“I’m delighted to have failed. I love failures. In this society where everything has to be perfect… yes, I’m sad, I fail, and I lose. So? Name one who doesn’t.”
He also acknowledged the unique scrutiny football managers endure.
“There’s no profession where 60,000 people want you to lose your job. But we’re so well-paid, we can accept this. The emotional stakes are high; if I win, I laugh at my neighbour; if I lose, he laughs at me.”
