Pep Guardiola rules out immediate return to dugout after Man City exit

Pep Guardiola says he does not plan to jump straight back into management after leaving Manchester City, insisting he needs a break from football after almost 20 years on the touchline.

The Spaniard, who has been widely linked in Italian media with the national team job, moved to shut down speculation that he could succeed Italy’s current coach in the near future.

Guardiola, 56, told Football Italia he wants to step away from the sport to focus on his personal life, saying his “whole life” has been attached to football since he first became a manager.

‘I want to discover life’

Guardiola said he feels no mental void that would compel him to return to work immediately once his time at Manchester City ends.

He said: “لا اشعر بانني افتقد اي شيء على المستوى الذهني”.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach began his senior managerial career in 2008 and has since become one of the most decorated managers in modern football, winning multiple league titles and the Champions League with both Barcelona and Manchester City.

But he admitted the intensity and longevity of his career have left him craving a different way of living.

He added: “بدات التدريب عندما كان عمري 37 عاما، وكانت حياتي باكملها مرتبطة بكرة القدم. الان اريد ان اكتشف الحياة وان اشعر بالسعادة وانا اقوم باشياء لا ترتبط بكرة القدم”.

No rush back to the touchline

Guardiola stressed that, while he remains passionate about coaching, he believes there comes a point where a pause is necessary.

He continued: “احب عملي، لكن تاتي لحظة تشعر فيها بانك بحاجة الى فترة راحة. ربما استيقظ يوما ما واقول: حسنا، اريد العودة الى التدريب. احتاج الى ان اشعر بانني افتقده، لكنني لا اشعر بذلك في الوقت الحالي”.

That stance will be a blow to any national federation or elite club hoping to tempt him into a swift return to the dugout once his spell at City comes to an end.

Italy have been repeatedly mentioned in European media reports as a potential destination for Guardiola, whose tactical approach has heavily influenced coaches across Serie A. His latest comments, however, indicate that any such move would not happen immediately after he leaves the Premier League champions.

Family and health now the priority

Guardiola said his main focus after stepping away from day-to-day management would be to spend more time with his family and to look after his own wellbeing.

He highlighted the importance of being present for his children and his 95-year-old father, suggesting his perspective on life has shifted as he has grown older.

He said: “احاول ان افهم كيف ستكون حياتي. قررت التوقف لانني اريد ان اعتني بنفسي بصورة افضل. اريد ان اقضي وقتا اطول مع اطفالي ومع والدي، الذي يبلغ من العمر 95 عاما وما زال معنا. ابلغ الان 56 عاما، ولم اعد شابا، لذلك تتغير نظرتك الى الحياة. ما زلت اتاقلم مع هذا الفصل الجديد، لكن الامور تسير بشكل جيد”.

Guardiola’s remarks will fuel debate about how long top managers can sustain the mental and physical demands of elite football, and whether extended sabbaticals could become more common at the highest level.

For now, the Catalan appears determined to step off the carousel once his Manchester City tenure concludes – and to resist the pull of even the most prestigious international jobs until he truly feels he misses the game.