FORMER BARCELONA BOSS Pep Guardiola has revealed his intention to return to coaching next season.
The tactician has been absent from the game since his departure from the club after the 2011-12 campaign.
Guardiola said that he intends to take over a coaching role again at some point, however he did not share any details on where he plans to continue his career.
“Yes, I would like to come back to coaching,” he said during the press conference in Zurich last night. ”I don’t have a team, I don’t know, but I would like to go back to coaching. My decision has been taken to coach, but beyond that there is no decision taken.”
Premier League clubs Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal have all been linked with Guardiola while Bayern Munich are also understood to be interested in making the 41-year-old their coach next season. Guardiola, who is taking a year’s sabbatical in New York, refused to be drawn on whether he had spoken to any clubs.
“It would be a lack of respect to other coaches to speak about any team that is being run by a coach anywhere in the world,” he said. The former midfielder handed over to Tito Vilanova at the end of last season after guiding Barcelona to 14 trophies in four years at the Camp Nou.
He continues to follow the team from afar and – with Barcelona 11 points clear at the top of La Liga – is proud of their progress since his departure.
“I keep watching Barcelona on TV and it’s great to watch the team,” Guardiola said. ”I was a lucky man to spend a few years with this fantastic team and it’s a source of pride to know they continue to play just as well or even better than when I was there.”
