Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, holds the UEFA Champions League title trophy during the parade in Manchester, England, June 12, 2023. /CFP
Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, will not extend his contract which will come due after the 2024-25 season, ESPN reported on Monday.
ESPN revealed that though Guardiola has not decided over his future, he may seek to manage a national team after leaving Man City. Both Brazil and the U.S. have reportedly reached out to him.
Having signed a two-year deal during the FIFA World Cup break in November 2022, Guardiola led Man City to win the Premier League championship, the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League title in the 2022-23 campaign, making them the second English club that won the treble after Manchester United in the 1999-98 season.
It is such a long-time wish come true for both Guardiola and Man City. After the historic night at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Türkiye on June 10, many wondered if Guardiola will part ways with the club right now instead of in another two years.
Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, looks on during the UEFA Champions League final against Inter Milan at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Türkiye, June 10, 2023. /CFP
The 52-year-old manager dismissed those rumors and assured Man City fans that he will come back to manage the team when the 2023-24 season begins. According to ESPN, Man City will try to convince him to stay for longer, but will respect his decision as well.
As one of the most successful managers in his era, Guardiola began his career in Barcelona, which he built into one of the most dominant clubs in football history. Then he left for Bayern Munich, but failed to win the Champions League. He managed Barca and Bayern for four and three seasons respectively.
By contrast, Guardiola just finished his seventh season in Man City, winning five Premier League titles, two FA Cups and one Champions League title.