Pep Guardiola is seemingly coming to the end of his spell at Manchester City.
It is not something any Manchester City fan wants to contemplate, but the reality is that the Spaniard is now in his ninth season at the club and his current contract expires next year.
It’s been suggested the most likely scenario is that Guardiola extends at City by one year.
But it does not appear that Guardiola will be in charge at the Etihad Stadium beyond 2026.
His right-hand man Txiki Begiristain will be leaving his post as Man City’s sporting director next summer to make way for Hugo Viana, and some have wondered if the Spaniard’s departure will have a bearing on Guardiola’s future.
Reportedly it won’t, but some are still slightly concerned.
In light of Begiristain leaving the club, Guardiola was actually asked if there was any potential for him to consider becoming a sporting director one day.
Pep Guardiola admits he doesn’t like the idea of being a sporting director
Guardiola has been a manager for a long time now.
He took over as Barcelona’s first-team head coach in 2008 with Begiristain helping him into the role, and has had a hugely successful career since.
Guardiola is known for being intense, and a perfectionist.
These traits, he feels, would perhaps not make him the best person to be a sporting director in the future.
He joked with reporters ahead of today’s Premier League clash with Wolves: “No. I will criticise my manager a lot! I can’t, I can’t.
“I like the grass honestly, I like the green and (being down) there. To be able to wear a tie, I don’t like!”
- READ MORE: Pep Guardiola leaving Man City in 2025? Possible replacements, contract, when decision could be made
Hard to imagine Guardiola not managing
Given the way he is, it is actually quite difficult to imagine Guardiola in any other footballing capacity than as a manager.
Sporting directors must work closely with managers, and there would probably be a huge temptation for Guardiola to get too involved given his passion for his craft – and obviously, his incredible know-how.
The suggestion from Guardiola himself is that he simply loves being out there on the training pitches and in the dugout and just working with players.
| Manchester City (2016-present) | Bayern Munich (2013-2016) | Barcelona (2008 – 2012) |
| Games managed – 483 | Games managed – 161 | Games managed – 247 |
| Wins – 350 | Wins – 121 | Wins – 179 |
| Draws – 70 | Draws – 21 | Draws – 47 |
| Losses – 63 | Losses – 19 | Losses – 21 |
| Win rate – 72.46% | Win rate – 75.16% | Win rate – 72.47% |
| Trophies won – 18 | Trophies won – 7 | Trophies won – 14 |
One wonders if he could perhaps go down the Arsene Wenger route and work for a footballing body.
But one thing is for sure, many City fans will really hope that he doesn’t manage another club after such an iconic spell at the Etihad. To see him in another club’s dugout would be very hard to stomach.
International management is thought to appeal to him, so perhaps he’ll have a stint as a national team boss before retiring.
