It came as a shock to most people when Pep Guardiola said he would be leaving the Barcelona to take some time out from football at the end of last season. The question is: When will he be coming back?
According to the man himself, there is a strong possibility of him returning from his sabbatical very soon, likely to be at the start of next season. At a news conference at the 2012 FIFA Ballon d’Or gala in Zurich on Tuesday, Guardiola said: “I have taken a decision to return to coaching but beyond that no decision has been taken. I don’t have a team to go to but I would like to go back to coaching.”
This is very exciting news for teams and fans alike, as there are a number of top clubs who would love to secure his services as a manager. The Spaniard, who led Barcelona to an amazing fourteen trophies in four years, including the lucrative Champions League title twice, has been linked to many major European clubs including Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and AC Milan. He also revealed that there is a possibility of him leading World Cup hosts Brazil through their campaign in 2014. The 41-year old has already been offered the Chelsea job several times, but has resisted the temptation to accept a contract worth £15million a year. With Alex Ferguson of Manchester United close to possible retirement and Mancini of Manchester City falling out with players and not delivering in the Champions League, both of these clubs have also been monitoring Guardiola’s actions, meaning that we could well see Pep prove his managerial worth in the Premier League.
In conclusion, it is highly evident that Pep will be coming back at the start of next season, which will make it very interesting to see the elite of football battle it out for his signature in the race to make him their next manager and hopefully lead them to the trophies and rewards that they desire.
