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Pep Guardiola's exit from Manchester City at the close of this season has now been officially confirmed, yet the iconic coach's next step is already clear—and it won't take him very far from the club.
While he takes time to reflect on whether stepping into another managerial role is the right path forward, Guardiola will transition into a role as ambassador and technical adviser for the City Football Group, the parent organization that oversees Manchester City and 10 other clubs across the globe.
Guardiola will, according to City, soon be "working on specific projects and collaborations."
Beyond raising the profile of the City Football Group, the role could also allow Guardiola to apply his vast knowledge and experience to support operations at the group's various clubs across Asia, North America, and Europe—helping to identify, develop, and coach emerging talent.
In the long run, this could prove beneficial for flagship club Manchester City, should any players prove capable of making the step up to the Etihad. Savinho stands as the most notable example of this pipeline in action, having moved to City from a fellow CFG club after a loan spell at a third.
Who Are the City Football Group Clubs?
The 11 clubs that form the City Football Group are distributed across the globe, with some fully owned and operated by CFG, while others involve majority or minority investment stakes.
Among the most well-known clubs outside of Manchester City are New York City and Melbourne City, which were the first and second acquisitions made after chief executive Ferran Soriano's multi-club vision began to materialize in 2013.
The network expanded into continental Europe in 2017 when CFG entered a joint-ownership arrangement with Guardiola's brother, Pere, to acquire Girona. French side Troyes was fully purchased in 2020, followed by former Serie A outfit Palermo in 2022.
Mumbai City is the sole former member of the group, having departed in 2025 after six years of affiliation.
City Football Group Clubs
Club | Country | Owned | Acquired |
|---|---|---|---|
Manchester City | England | 100% | 2008 |
New York City | United States | 80% | 2013 |
Melbourne City | Australia | 100% | 2014 |
Yokohama F. Marinos | Japan | 20% | 2014 |
Girona | Spain | 47% | 2017 |
Monteviedo City Torque | Uruguay | 100% | 2017 |
Shenzen Peng City | China | 47% | 2019 |
Troyes | France | 100% | 2020 |
Lommel | Belgium | 99% | 2020 |
Palermo | Italy | 94.94% | 2022 |
Esporte Clube Bahia | Brazil | 90% | 2023 |
Will Pep Guardiola Manage Another Team?
Despite the announcement of his CFG advisory role, there is nothing to suggest that Guardiola's days as a manager are behind him.
For the time being, the 55-year-old is expected to step back from the daily demands of management, though he could continue his involvement with the City Football Group once he returns to coaching, provided no conflicts of interest arise.
The most straightforward route back would be through international football, with Guardiola's long-stated ambition—one he has referenced as far back as 2018—being to take charge of a national side.
A wide range of possibilities could be available to him, spanning top-tier nations such as England or Italy, to emerging football countries like the United Arab Emirates, or even the United States.