Pep Guardiola has revealed that he is planning to move into international management after his Manchester City contract expires.
Guardiola's current deal is set to expire in 2023. If he sees that out he will have spent seven years at City. Since joining the club he has led the Citizens to three Premier League titles, four Carabao Cups and one FA Cup triumph.
Guardiola had been expected to depart the club at the end of the 2020/21 season, before having a change of heart and extending his stay.
However, there is little chance of him staying beyond 2023 as he is eyeing a move into international management.
"My next step will be to train a team, if I have that possibility. I have to take a break after seven years at Manchester City. I must stop, watch, learn from other trainers and maybe follow that path. I would like to guide a team at the European, Copa América and World Cup," he said at a recent event, as reported by A Bola.
If all goes according to plan, Guardiola should be on the market during the aftermath of the 2022 World Cup, which is scheduled to finish part way through his last season in charge of City. A host of top European nations could be shopping for a new manager around then, depending on how they fare at the tournament.
Spain manager Luis Enrique is currently set to be out of contract just after the World Cup, as is England boss Gareth Southgate. Brazilian boss Tite is another manager set to be out of work.
While all three of these destinations would represent intriguing prospects for Guardiola, as he indicated, any career move would likely be prefaced by an extended period of shadowing other coaches. He underwent a similar period of study after retiring as a player.
Source : 90min