Pep Guardiola says Manchester City will be the only English club he will ever manage. And the Blues boss says that he wants to stay at the Etihad as long as possible, and has no ambitions to succeed Gareth Southgate as England manager. Guardiola still has another year left on his current contract at City after this season, and has hinted in the past that he might stay for longer if the club still wants him – but that it all depends on the success he can bring.
Pep Guardiola said: “When we finish our time here for the pleasure to be at a European Championships or World Cup, I would like to live it. I know it’s not easy to find it because normally there are few positions. It’s a difficult thing to happen, but I would like it. If it doesn’t happen, I will train a club, no problem. But in England, always I will be in Man City, and if I have to come back I would come back to Man City, if they want me. I don’t think I will train another club in England. I’m a part of this club.”
Guardiola did not specifically rule out taking charge of the England team at a point in the future, but he was full of praise for Southgate and congratulated him on being awarded a new contract recently.
Pep Guardiola said: “Gareth has done an incredible job, reaching the final stages of the World Cup and European Championships. This is huge success for English football. What I want is for him to sign a contract for more years, and extend more if he is happy, and the FA is happy to do it. I am not here to take a position from anyone, and it’s not my target to train there. I want to be here as long as possible – my energy is still here, and my love for what I’m doing is still here. After, I don’t know what’s going to happen. Years ago I never thought I would be training Manchester City, and when I came I never thought I would be here for six seasons. Never. Life dictates your future and it’s much better so we’ll see what happens.”