Pep Guardiola Announces His Coaching Retirement Timeline

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola joked about taking a future break from coaching, saying he'll "start thinking about it in 2035" after receiving advice from his former assistant Carles Planchart. The comment comes as speculation continues about the Spanish coach's long-term plans at the Premier League club.

Speaking at a press conference before City's match against Everton, Guardiola referenced his former assistant's suggestion about taking time off. "He might be right, in 2035 I'll think about the matter," the 53-year-old manager said with a smile.

Guardiola's current contract with City runs until the end of the 2026-2027 season. He's been at the club since 2016 and has won multiple Premier League titles, but questions about his future surface regularly given his history of relatively short stays at previous clubs.

The manager acknowledged significant changes at City over the past year but stressed that energy remains high within his coaching staff and among new players. "In Barcelona and Bayern Munich, if I faced any major problem, I would have stepped aside. Here, that hasn't happened," he explained.

This perspective matters for City's stability. Guardiola's previous tenures lasted four years each at Barcelona and Bayern Munich before he moved on. His current stint at City has already exceeded that timeframe, suggesting a different dynamic at the English club.

Guardiola emphasized his strong relationship with City's management and noted that while many coaching staff members have left over the years, each following their own preferences, he remains committed. "We're not the same people as from the beginning. The relationship with the club's management is very strong," he said.

The manager expressed confidence about the current season, believing the team can perform better than last year. "Right now, I feel I have enough energy and I think we're capable of delivering better performance compared to last season. That's my goal," he stated.

Rather than making bold predictions, Guardiola focused on gradual improvement. "We're getting better gradually in every match, and there's still plenty of room for improvement. This gives me the motivation to continue here and keep working," he concluded.

For City investors and fans, Guardiola's comments suggest stability through at least his current contract period. His joke about 2035 aside, the manager appears energized by the challenge of improving the team's performance this season.