“Why not?” – Pep Guardiola opens door to next club after Manchester City career | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has issued a major hint as to where his managerial career could go should he decide to remain in club football beyond Manchester City.

The 54-year-old is entering into his 10th season as Manchester City manager having penned a two-year extension to his Etihad Stadium contract to take him through until the conclusion of the 2026/27 campaign.

As part of the next phase of Guardiola’s time with the club, there is a significant amount of work to be done in order to get an all-conquering side from the last few years back to its competitive best after a drop-off in standards last season.

With Pep Guardiola entirely committed to the task, the Catalan tactician is working closely with Hugo Viana on the rebuild of his playing squad, welcoming four new faces in time for the start of the now-ongoing FIFA Club World Cup.

And while the focus will no doubt be on the immediate term and Manchester City’s ambitions for the forthcoming campaign, there remains a lingering subject of conversation among supporters as to just how long they have left with their greatest-ever manager.

Speaking during a recent press conference, Guardiola was asked whether he would like to one day sample the outstanding football culture in South America – that has grabbed attentions at the Club World Cup – by managing a club side in the continent after Manchester City.

“Why not? Many, many, many, many good things in all of history have happened in football, and many, many good things have come from South America – especially from Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay! I would say all the countries,” Guardiola insisted.

“Many, many good things in football, the greatest players come from there and after most of them come to Europe because the opportunities economically, the prestige, everything – always it’s so incredibly high,” he added.

“But I love when in this tournament you play South American teams playing with Europe and other continents, how they challenge, how they compete. I admire how they defend, you see Boca Juniors how every single ball is like, ‘WOW! The end of the world!’

“It’s different styles, different ways, it’s really, really good. That’s what it’s all about and I like that every game is tough, really, really tough except one or two, all the games are so tight. And the people say, ‘Ah surprise! A European team lost!’ Oh yeah, welcome to the real world, my friends! Welcome to the world!”

Pep Guardiola continued, “You look like you’re just looking at your belly and you are not watching what happened, because they are good! And I like, and that is what it is. Brazil – six World Cups – look at the last three, four, or five years Argentina controlling football, winning World Cup, Copa America, [Lionel] Messi in his department.

“So why should you not pay attention to how good they [South American teams] are? And we are there to play against them, to prove how we are as a team, to try to extend as long as possible in this competition here, and prepare for next season.”

For now, there is unlikely to be any thought in Pep Guardiola’s mind over where his future lies beyond Manchester City, and conversation around taking on a club challenge in South American may be slightly reactionary.

The long-standing City head coach has previously insisted that he would not have the energy to coach at club level beyond his time at the Etihad Stadium, but has indicated a firm desire on multiple occasions to manage at a major international tournament.