Pep Guardiola Refuses to Rule Out England Job After Manchester City Exit

Pep Guardiola’s 10-year reign at Manchester City came to a close on Sunday, May 24, 2026, with the club’s final Premier League fixture of the season against Aston Villa — and with it came renewed speculation over where the 55-year-old Spaniard will manage next.

Despite signalling a desire to step away from football entirely, Guardiola stopped short of closing the door on the England national team job when asked directly about the possibility. “I don’t have any absolute plan about my future,” he said. “I go to rest and recover the time I missed with my kids… I don’t think for one second about anything related to football for the next years. I need to rest, I need to reflect.”

When pressed further on whether those remarks effectively ruled out the England position, Guardiola offered a characteristically cryptic response: “Yeah – [but] nobody cares.” The ambiguity of that reply has done little to dampen speculation surrounding his next move.

Guardiola, who previously managed Barcelona and Bayern Munich before joining City in 2016, has described his 17 years of uninterrupted management as justification for an extended sabbatical. He has rejected any suggestion of an immediate return to the Etihad dugout, making clear that he believes he has earned a significant break from the game.

Following his departure from Manchester City, Guardiola is set to take on an ambassadorial role with the City Football Group, the multi-club ownership network of which Manchester City is the flagship member. The position would keep him connected to the organisation without the demands of day-to-day coaching.

The England job has been a subject of ongoing discussion in English football circles. Current Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel recently confirmed key selection decisions ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including leaving Phil Foden out of his squad — a call that has attracted considerable scrutiny. Should England’s campaign at the tournament fall short of expectations, pressure on Tuchel’s position could intensify, potentially reopening the managerial question.

Guardiola’s tenure at Manchester City was one of the most decorated in English football history. Under his management, City won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, and the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League — completing a historic treble that season. His departure marks the end of a dominant era at the Etihad Stadium that fundamentally reshaped the competitive landscape of the Premier League.

Whether Guardiola’s “maybe, we will see” posture on the England job translates into a formal pursuit remains to be seen. For now, the former City boss appears committed to stepping away from the dugout — at least until the dust settles on what has been one of the most successful managerial careers in modern football.