Pep Guardiola has given the clearest indication of his plans after Manchester City – revealing he will definitely take up international management in the future.
The Catalan signed a new three-year contract at the Etihad in the summer, which will make City his longest job in management if he sees out the deal.
But Guardiola has always insisted he will not end his career in Manchester and is tempted by the prospect of taking over a national team.
“Sooner or later, it will happen because every three days I would like to be involved, but a little bit more calm, play more golf,” he said. “If I have a chance and some international team wants to come ‘knock knock.’ We will see.”
Guardiola lasted four years at Barcelona before taking a 12-month sabbatical in New York.
Despite interest from City and Manchester United, he returned to management with Bayern Munich in 2013, before heading to the Etihad three years later.
He endured a difficult first year in England – but went on to lead City to the Premier League title last season, as well as the League Cup.
The Champions are favourites to retain their title this year, with Guardiola claiming he is at the height of his powers.
“I am a better manager than I was in Germany, and I am a better manager now than I was in Barcelona by far, just for the fact of being there,” he said during the Peers Annual Lecture at Liverpool University.
“Now, I feel being here I am a better manager too, because I learned to handle this incredible league in many circumstances.
“It is the toughest one, for the amount of games, for the weather and the referees saying, ‘play, play, play’ and the competitors, there are many. It is the only country that five or six can win the Premier League.”
