Pep Guardiola has dropped a major hint about his next career move after leaving Manchester City, suggesting he may turn to international management. Following a decade of unprecedented success at the Etihad, Sunday's final-day Premier League clash against Aston Villa is expected to be his last match in charge.
Guardiola's Next Challenge
The 55-year-old Catalan manager has previously indicated that a national team role appeals to him. In an interview at the end of 2024, he discussed his departure from City and revealed he would seek a different type of challenge.
Speaking on chef Dani Garcia's Desmontadito YouTube channel, Guardiola said: "A time will come when I feel it's enough and I'll definitely stop then. I'm not going to manage another team. I'm not talking about the long-term future but what I'm not going to do is leave Manchester City and go to another country to do the same thing as I am now. I wouldn't have the energy to do so. The thought of starting off somewhere else, with all the process of the training and so on... no, no, no! Maybe a national team but that's different."
Brazil Job in His Sights
In 2024, it was reported that Guardiola had received three separate approaches about taking charge of a national team. He has long been linked with the Brazil job, currently held by Carlo Ancelotti. He was also considered for the England role before Thomas Tuchel's appointment.
Guardiola's tenure at Manchester City has been one of the most decorated in English football history. Since his arrival in 2016, the club has won 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League. They have also claimed the FA Cup three times and the Carabao Cup five times, with both competitions won this season. City remain in contention for the Premier League title and face Bournemouth on Tuesday, hoping to take the race with Arsenal to the final weekend.
Successor Enzo Maresca
It has been widely reported that former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca will take over at the Etihad. The 46-year-old, who served as Guardiola's assistant during City's treble-winning campaign in 2022-23, has been out of work since leaving Stamford Bridge in January. His departure from Chelsea followed his informing the club that he had been in contact with City on multiple occasions about succeeding Guardiola.
Guardiola could also opt for a sabbatical, as he did between his spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich. However, his recent comments strongly suggest that international management is his preferred next step, with the Brazil job a long-standing ambition.
