Pep Guardiola implies he COULD leave Manchester City if he wins historic Treble

Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, celebrates with the Premier League trophy following the Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Etihad Stadium on May 21, 2023 in Manchester, England.
(Image credit: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has suggested that he could leave his post, should the Eastlands outfit complete the Treble this season.

Guardiola is on the brink of history, having wrapped up a Premier League title already, with FA Cup and Champions League finals to come in June. The Catalan last tasted European glory in 2011 with Barcelona and has been on a quest to repeat such success since with Bayern Munich and now Manchester City.

Having only signed a new contract in November 2022 to take his tenure at the Etihad Stadium through until 2025 – giving him nine seasons in charge, should he see it to completion – Guardiola is now facing questions about whether he'd consider breaking that deal early, should he complete his mission in Istanbul against Inter Milan next month.

Pep Guardiola gives Riyad Mahrez instructions in Manchester City's Premier League game against Leicester in April 2023.

Pep Guardiola has a contract until 2025 – but will he see it through? (Image credit: Getty Images)

"First, we have to win it – [then] you can ask me after and I will tell you how I feel and how I think," Guardiola told Sky Sports when asked about his future.

"Of course, we are three games away and we need each competition to do it. [But] You are going to tell me that our city rivals, Manchester United, will be an easy game?"

While Guardiola has been coy over a potential departure, it seems unlikely that he will actually walk out on the champions. The City boss has refused to talk about his future in the past, allowing his last contract to approach its final year before re-signing. 

Guardiola enjoys a good relationship with several of the City hierarchy having links to the manager. CEO Ferran Soriano was on Barcelona's board of directors in the 2000s, while director of football, Txiki Begiristain, played in Johan Cruyff's 'Dream Team' of the 90s with Guardiola himself. 

Ferran Soriano the Chief Executive Officer of Manchester City, Khaldoon Al Mubarak the Chairman of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola the manager of Manchester City and Txiki Begiristain the Director of Football of Manchester City celebrate after the Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Etihad Stadium on May 21, 2023 in Manchester, England.

From left to right: City CEO Ferran Soriano, chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, manager Pep Guardiola and director of football Txiki Begiristain (Image credit: Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)

Were Guardiola to actually leave City, it is likely that a contingency plan would be known by now, with several managers on a shortlist to replace the outgoing boss. 

Former captain and current Burnley gaffer Vincent Kompany is currently 9/2 favourite with Paddy Power to become Manchester City's next manager.

More Manchester City stories

With Erling Haaland breaking goal records a-plenty, Pep Guardiola said that Manchester City are monitoring the striker's fitness "24 hours a day".

Ilkay Gundogan is rumoured to be a major target for Barcelona this summer, while Guardiola has explained why major City stars are being subbed early. One Burnley star has told FFT that Vincent Kompany could manage the Citizens one day.

Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.