Pep Guardiola said he will not rule out managing the England national team in the future after leaving Manchester City.
As one of the most successful managers in modern football, Guardiola's openness to the role creates immediate speculation regarding the future of the Three Lions. His departure marks the end of an era for the Premier League club.
Guardiola made the comments Saturday, May 23, in Manchester following City's final league match against Aston Villa [1]. The 55-year-old manager [1] is concluding a tenure at Manchester City that lasted 10 years [2]. His final match with the club takes place Sunday, May 24, 2026 [1].
Despite the interest in his next move, Guardiola emphasized that he is not seeking immediate employment. He intends to step away from the game to recover from the demands of the season, a break he believes is necessary before deciding on his next project.
"I don’t have a plan, just rest and do things I want to do," Guardiola said [1].
When questioned specifically about the vacancy or future potential of the England position, he remained non-committal but open. He noted that while he is not actively planning a transition to international management, the possibility remains on the table.
"I have no definite plans, but I won’t rule out managing England in the future," Guardiola said [1].
The manager's decision to prioritize rest suggests that any move to the national team would not happen immediately. He has spent a decade building a dominant force in Manchester, and his transition now leaves a significant void in the English domestic game.
“"I have no definite plans, but I won’t rule out managing England in the future."”
Guardiola's willingness to consider the England job signals a potential shift in the profile of national team management, moving toward elite club tacticians. However, his insistence on a period of rest suggests that the Football Association would likely have to wait for a window of availability rather than securing him for an immediate appointment.
