NÓNG: Pep Guardiola announces retirement plans

Pep Guardiola openly discusses the possibility of stopping after his tenure at Manchester City, admitting he will miss the matches and stadiums that have been part of his career.

Coach Pep Guardiola once again draws attention from the football world by mentioning the possibility of ending his coaching career after his time at Manchester City. The Spanish manager's contract currently runs until 2027, but his future has been widely discussed recently.

Guardiola has managed Man City since 2016 and built one of the most successful eras in the club's history. However, his latest statements before the match against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals lead many to believe that his departure day may be approaching.

According to TNT Sports, when asked if he would miss big matches like those against Real Madrid after retiring, Guardiola admitted: “Of course I will miss such matches. I have great affection for this place, I love coming here. People in Madrid might not think so, but I deeply respect this club; they have done many wonderful things for world football.”

The 55-year-old manager also added that he will miss many venues associated with his career. Guardiola shared: “Yes, I will miss these matches, but I will also miss not going to Camp Nou, miss Bayern Munich—hopefully we can advance to go there—and I will miss all of it when I stop and retire. I will miss nights like these because they are truly special.”

Not only the top matches in the Champions League, Guardiola also holds deep affection for historic stadiums in England. He mentioned familiar Premier League venues like Selhurst Park and Goodison Park, considering them part of why he loves English football.

“The Champions League will definitely be missed, but Fulham, Crystal Palace, stadiums like that, Goodison Park—those stadiums are one of the reasons I love England, I love the Premier League,” Guardiola said. “The FA Cup too! Matches against League One teams… I love it! But someday everything will end, right?”

After leaving Barcelona in 2012, Guardiola took a one-year break before taking over Bayern Munich. Therefore, it is likely he will also pause his career after concluding his journey at Man City.

Speaking about future plans, Guardiola stated: “I know that after this period with City, I will stop. That is certain, it's already decided. I don't know how long I will stop—one year, two years, three years or longer—but I will stop to rest after this period with City.”

The possibility of Pep Guardiola ending his coaching journey after his time at Manchester City thus attracts more attention. With the titles and tactical legacy built at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Man City, the Spanish strategist has almost nothing left to prove. But before thinking about stopping, Guardiola still has major goals ahead with the Manchester team this season.