Pep Guardiola claims he could take '15-year' break from management as revered coach reiterates desire to quit at end of Man City contract

Guardiola started his journey as a manager in 2008 when he took the reins of the Barcelona senior team from Frank Rijkaard. After a successful four-year stint at his boyhood club, the manager headed to Bayern Munich before joining the Cityzens in 2016.

The 54-year-old is widely considered one of the greatest managers in the history of the game as he won 12 league titles across three countries and two Champions League trophies. He was also the first manager in the world to win a European treble with two different clubs. The City head coach, however, is now tired and wants to take some time off and focus on himself.

Speaking to GQ, Guardiola said: "I don't know. The truth is, I don't know, but I don't think I'm... I don't know, because you can also have large work groups that help you with certain things. I know that after this stage with City I'm going to stop, that's for sure, it's decided, more than decided. I don't know how long I'll stop for, a year, two years, three years, five, 10, 15, I don't know. But I'm going to stop after this stage with City, because I need to stop and focus on myself, on my body, on... In Catalan, they say 'badar'. 'Badar, badar, badar'... I want to do this, simply stop and watch the cows go by when the train goes by.

"My grandfather used to say, you look at me like cows watch the train go by. Well, that's it, you have to stop and watch it go by. And then life... I had never thought that I would coach, that I would go to Germany to coach, to England, and be the coach of Barcelona, or that I would play for Barcelona. We think we're in control, but no, something's bound to happen that'll put something in front of me, and I'll say: Oh, do I want to do this or not? And if not, well, I'll figure it out. And I think my plan now is this: stop, stop... And then we'll see."

The Cityzens will play sister club Palermo in a pre-season friendly next month, before kicking off their campaign in the Premier League against Wolves on August 16.