Pep Guardiola has confirmed he plans to take a sabbatical from football once his contract with Manchester City expires.
Speaking to ESPN Brasil, the City manager stated: “After my contract with City, I’m going to stop. I’m sure. I don’t know if I’m going to retire, but I’m going to take a break.”
He later reiterated this stance in a separate interview with Sky Sports, clarifying that while he has no immediate plans to leave the club, a break from the game is inevitable once his tenure ends.
The 53-year-old Spaniard, who took charge at City in 2016 following successful stints at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, has overseen a historic period of dominance in English football.
Under his leadership, City have won six Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, multiple domestic cups and most recently became the first team to win four consecutive Premier League titles.
Guardiola emphasized that his decision does not imply imminent departure. “I didn’t say I’m leaving now, or the end of the season,” he said.
“When I finish here, whether it’s in one, two, three, four, five, or six years, I will take a break. Not retirement, just a stop.”
Despite a challenging 2024/25 season that saw City exit the Champions League and fall behind in the title race, Guardiola’s side remain in contention for the FA Cup and sit third in the Premier League with three matches remaining.
