Coach Pep Guardiola brought to light, in August 2026, details of a challenging period in his personal trajectory, which occurred in the final season with Manchester City. Months after leaving the club, he confessed uncertainty about returning to his coaching career. At 55 years old, the Spaniard highlighted the need for a period away from sport to reorganize aspects of his life.
Statements regarding his future were made in the documentary “A Beautiful Obsession”, produced by Amazon. Guardiola ended a decade of work at the helm of Manchester City in May and now foresees an extended period of seclusion, without completely ruling out the chance of not resuming a technical role.
“I don’t even know what I’m going to do. It will be difficult to go back. That’s my feeling today. I need to renew a lot of things that happened in my personal life,” Guardiola declared, expressing the depth of his uncertainty.
The technical commander also mentioned the importance of discovering new passions and hobbies before defining your next professional steps.
Guardiola shares details about his divorce with Cristina Serra
Last season, Guardiola discussed the end of his relationship with Cristina Serra with his athletes. In a conversation in the locker room, after a setback for Manchester City, the coach used his personal experience to demand greater commitment and passion from the squad.
He revealed: “I’m divorced from the most beautiful woman on the planet. She’s my wife, my ex-wife. I love her incredibly. But we lost the passion.”
The personal experience led Guardiola to a deep reflection on the essence of passion, both in the football environment and in everyday life.
“In your life, whatever you do, do it with passion. I don’t want good players, I want players with passion”, added the coach, reinforcing his philosophy.
The formalization of Cristina Serra’s separation occurred in December 2024, after a union that lasted ten years and from which three children were born.
Txiki Begiristain recommends rest period for coach
Txiki Begiristain, who is a close friend of Guardiola and served as former director of football at Manchester City, also advocated for the coach to take time to step away from the sporting environment. Both worked for the English team for nine years.
Begiristain emphasized that “You may lose 3-0, but life goes on and there are amazing moments you can have with your friends”, suggesting a broader perspective.
The former director stated that Guardiola needs to experience a routine disconnected from the intense pressure characteristic of football.
“If he only meets football people and football is all he knows, he will continue on the same rollercoaster he’s been on. He needs time to get out of it and really be out,” Begiristain advised.
Despite the uncertainty expressed, Guardiola admits that his deep passion for football has the power to eventually propel him back into the sport.
“It’s the joy and pleasure of seeing my team play well. That’s the motto and the goal when I wake up every day. It’s so addictive. Older coaches retire and want to come back, and then come back again. They can’t live without it,” concluded Guardiola, revealing the fascination that the sport has on him.
