Guardiola considers retirement, reveals reason to step away

Pep Guardiola admitted that he may not return to work as a coach after ending his ten-year spell at Manchester City. At 55, the Spaniard said he intends to step away from football for a period before deciding whether he will continue his career.

The statement was made in the Amazon documentary "A Beautiful Obsession", which follows moments of Guardiola's life during his final years at Manchester City. The coach revealed that he currently does not know what his next professional step will be.

I don't even know what I'm going to do. It will be difficult to come back.

"I don't even know what I'm going to do. It will be difficult to come back," said Guardiola. The Spaniard explained that he needs to reorganize different aspects of his personal life before thinking about taking charge of a team again.

Guardiola left Manchester City after a decade in charge of the club. During that period, he became the most successful coach in the team's recent history and led City to a series of titles, including the club's first Champions League.

Despite the enormous professional success, the coach said he needs time away from football's routine. According to Guardiola, one of his main goals at this moment is to find new interests and discover activities unrelated to the sport.

"I need to find myself a bit in different things. I need to sit down and switch off for a while," said the Spaniard. The statement reinforces that, at least for now, Guardiola shows no rush to return to the touchline.

The period away is also linked to personal matters the coach has faced in recent years. The documentary addresses his separation from Cristina Serra, announced in December 2024, after ten years of marriage. The two have three children.

Guardiola also stressed the importance of regaining passion for the things that are part of his life. For him, the recent experience made him start seeing football and his own career in a different way.

The possibility of definitive retirement, however, has not yet been confirmed. Guardiola did not say he will never coach again, but made clear that a return is not among his priorities at this moment.

Even before leaving Manchester City, the Spaniard had already indicated that he intended to take a break after the end of his cycle at the club. Now, his statements suggest that this break could be longer than initially imagined.

Guardiola's future also draws interest because he remains one of the most sought-after coaches in world football. During the period he was free on the market, the Spaniard was even approached by the Italian national team, but turned down the chance to take charge of the Azzurri.

For now, Guardiola prefers to keep football in the background. After nearly two decades as a coach and ten seasons at Manchester City, the Spaniard now intends to enjoy a period of rest and personal reorganization before deciding whether he will return, or not, to the dugout.