Guardiola tells friends he wants England job after leaving Manchester City

Pep Guardiola has told close friends he wants to manage England, according to reports, days after his exit from Manchester City — where he spent a decade winning 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League — was confirmed.

The Daily Mail, as cited by The Sun, reports that Guardiola will not return to club management in the near term. The outlet also suggests that a recent Instagram post from Guardiola’s daughter was a retirement announcement rather than a farewell to Manchester specifically.

Guardiola has previously expressed a desire to lead a national team to World Cup glory, having exhausted the major honours available at club level. England is said to be his preferred destination, though the report notes he is “prone to changing his mind hastily.”

Any route to the England job faces a significant obstacle. Current head coach Thomas Tuchel signed a contract extension with the Football Association that runs until the summer of 2028, meaning Guardiola would face a lengthy wait before the position became available. Tuchel is set to take charge of England at this summer’s World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, where the Three Lions will face Croatia, Ghana, and Panama in the group stage.

At Manchester City, the search for Guardiola’s successor is ongoing. Former assistant Enzo Maresca is reported to be the leading candidate to take over at the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola offered a message to whoever inherits the role. “When the club tell me who it is, of course I will call him,” he said. “I will tell him, ‘Be yourself and the club will support you unconditionally. That is the biggest compliment, or the biggest luck that all the managers who have been here have had. You will be protected in the bad moments more than any other club. Be yourself, be free, go with your ideas. Work a lot and everything will be fine.’”