WORN OUT Pep Guardiola admits it will be difficult for him to return to management in the future.
And his close friend Txiki Begiristain has told him to get to know a life outside of the ‘rollercoaster of football’ after leaving Manchester City.
Guardiola is unsure about his future in the game after leaving Manchester City Credit: Getty
Guardiola’s pal and former director of football Txiki Begiristain says a lengthy spell out of the game would benefit him Credit: Getty
The 55-year-old brought the curtain down on his glorious 10 year reign in May and plans to take a long break – which may even be permanent.
Italy made an attempt to make him their new boss earlier in the summer – but he told them he was too tired to take on a new challenge.
Sign up for the Football newsletter
Thank you!
He told Amazon’s new documentary ‘A Beautiful Obsession’: “I don’t even know myself what I’m going to do.
“It will be difficult to come back – that is my feeling today. I need to refresh many things that happened in my personal life.
GREALISH BOMBSHELL
City flop given hope of reviving Etihad career after Maresca praise
Welcome player
Join Jattvibe Vegas now and claim a 100% deposit match bonus and 100 free spins
“I need to find myself a little bit in different things. I need to sit and zone out for a bit. That is one of the main targets.”
Begiristain left his role as director of football at City in summer 2025 but worked alongside his friend and former team-mate for nine years.
He revealed how he watched his old club lose 3-0 to Real Madrid in the spring – but was able to go out and forget all about it.
And he said: “I’ve wanted to explain this to Pep – that you can lose 3-0 but life goes on and there are amazing moments that you can live with your friends.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK
Play Dream Team this season!
£100,000 in prize money up for grabs in 2026/27
Free to enter
Play in Mini Leagues against your mates
£60,000 jackpot for the overall winner
£1,000 prize for winning Gameweek 1
PLAY DREAM TEAM NOW!
“But if he meets only football people and football is all he knows, he’s going to be in the same rollercoaster that he’s been living.
“He needs time to get out and be really out.”
The thing that could potentially persuade Pep back into football management is if he misses the thrill of winning matches.
He said earlier in the series: “It’s the joy and the pleasure to see my team play good. That’s the motto and the target when I wake up every single day.
“It’s so addictive, older managers retire and they want to come back and then back again. They cannot live without it.”
Guardiola played his team a montage of their finest moments accompanied by BeeGees classic ‘You Win Again’ towards the end of his reign.
He said: “What I’m most proud of is the history that we left – that we saw with our own eyes. And that time was so fun.
“The people were so happy to see that team play.”
