Pep Guardiola has said that he will leave Manchester City when his current contract expires at the end of next season.
The Spaniard says he will “have a break” after seven years at City, before then returning to management.
He added that he would like to manage a national team in South America or Europe.
Speaking at an online event with Brazilian company XP Investimentos, he said (via Marca): “The next step will be to coach a national team, if there is an opportunity.
“After seven years at this club, I think I’m going to have a break.
“I will need to rest after being somewhere so many years and also stop to evaluate what we’ve done and to try to learn from other coaches.
“If, during this process of stopping, there is a chance to coach a national team then I think I’d like that.
“I’d like to coach at a European Championship or Copa America or World Cup. I’d like to experience that.”
Guardiola’s managerial career in numbers
The 50-year-old was appointed at City boss at the start of the 2016/17 season, replacing Manuel Pellegrini.
He had previously spent time at Bayern Munich – where he won seven trophies in three seasons – and Barcelona.
It is at Barcelona where Guardiola made his name as one of the world’s top coaches. He won 14 trophies in just four seasons at the club, including six trophies in a single calendar year in 2009.
He has won a total of 10 trophies at City so far, including four Premier League titles.
They have also dominated the League Cup in recent years, winning it on each of the last four occasions it has been held.
Last season, City finished as runners-up in the Champions League after losing 1-0 to Chelsea in Portugal.
The news of Guardiola’s intentions to manage a national team will surely interest plenty of nations.
It is not the first time those intentions have been made clear. Last year, Guardiola’s brother, Pere, said (via Daily Mail): “Pep has a dream of coaching a national team someday, but we’ll see how it goes; what will be the moment, if he will receive an offer.
“It is not something for the present.”
Guardiola and Manchester City are next in Premier League action on Saturday, when they take on Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.
Featured Image Credit: Getty
