Pep Guardiola plans to take a long break after his current commitments.
Whether as a player or a coach, Guardiola enjoyed his most successful and memorable years at Barcelona. So, will we see him return to his beloved club in the future? He has firmly dismissed that possibility.
The former Spanish midfielder and one of the world’s top coaches took charge of Barcelona’s first team in 2008 after retiring from professional football.
Under his guidance, the Catalan club became nearly unbeatable over the next four years, winning numerous trophies including a historic treble.
In 2013, Guardiola moved to Bayern Munich, where he spent three seasons before joining Manchester City in 2016. Although he has enjoyed great success in England, last season was not his best.
Over the past decade, questions about a possible Barcelona return have frequently been directed at the 54-year-old coach. In a recent interview with GQ magazine, he was again asked about it — and made it clear he has no desire to go back.
“(My Barcelona chapter) is over. For life. It was a wonderful time, but it’s finished now. Would I return as club president? No, I’m not suitable for that role.”
Guardiola is equally clear about his plans after Manchester City, hinting at a lengthy break.
“It could be one year, two years, three years, five, 10, 15…”
In terms of trophies, Guardiola has actually been more successful at Manchester City than at Barcelona. At Barcelona, he won 14 trophies including two Champions Leagues and three La Liga titles. At City, he has won 18 trophies, including one Champions League and six Premier League titles.
