Pep Guardiola has suggested he will either take a sabbatical or move into international management when he finally calls time on his reign at Manchester City.

Guardiola has won 18 trophies in eight years at the Etihad Stadium, including six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three EFL Cups and the Champions League in 2022-23.

He was strongly linked with the England job in the aftermath of Gareth Southgate's resignation in July, but with Thomas Tuchel succeeding him as the Three Lions' coach, Guardiola instead committed his immediate future to City last month.

With his previous deal with City set to expire at the end of this season, Guardiola penned an extension to keep him at the Etihad until 2027.

When Guardiola's glittering tenure does come to an end, the Catalan will not make an immediate move to another club.

Speaking to Spanish chef Dani Garcia on his Desmontadito YouTube channel, Guardiola said: "I want to leave it and go and play golf but I can't!

"A time will come when I feel it's enough and I'll definitely stop then. I'm not going to manage another club. 

"I'm not talking about the long-term future but what I'm not going to do is leave Manchester City and go to another country to do the same thing as I am now.

"I wouldn't have the energy to do so. I'm still here doing what I am today. But the thought of starting off somewhere else, with all the process of the training and so on... no, no, no! Maybe a national team. but that's different. 

"I should stop, like these chefs that go to other countries, stop and see what we've done well and what we could do better and when you're busy all day, day after day, you don't have time to do that. I think stopping would do me good."

Guardiola's quest to become the first coach in English football history to win five straight top-flight titles is threatening to unravel even at this early stage of the season.

City are eight points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool having played an additional game, following a run of one win in six league matches (one draw, four losses).

They have struggled to maintain control over games since losing Ballon d'Or-winning midfielder Rodri to an anterior cruciate ligament injury in September. 

City went unbeaten through the 34 league games in which the Spaniard appeared last season (27 wins, seven draws) but lost three of four without him in 2023-24, and Guardiola says it was inevitable that his team would suffer without him. 

"He's been voted the best player in the world and of course we miss him," Guardiola added. "Imagine a scenario where Lionel Messi has just been voted best player in the world and Barcelona had to play without him for a whole year.

"I don't think we would have won the treble or the sextuple without them. These players are unique and they show that uniqueness especially in the bad times, when games are going against you.

"Rodri is at another level in that respect so of course we miss him. But time passes quickly and I'm sure he'll come back stronger."