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In what could be a subtle yet significant indication of his life after football, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has thrown his weight behind a cutting-edge health and wellness clinic in Spain. The move comes amid growing speculation that the legendary coach may soon step away from the sidelines, potentially marking the beginning of a new chapter outside elite football management.
Backed by experience, driven by wellness
Reportedly launched last month, the Monarka Clinic has been co-founded by Guardiola alongside renowned therapist Montse Escobar and his trusted doctor Mireia Illueca—the very physician who treated Guardiola for a serious back injury years ago. The Spanish tactician was so impressed with her healing methods that he remained in close contact with her ever since, eventually agreeing to support the clinic both financially and publicly.
“I had a back problem and she fixed it, and since then we’ve gotten to know each other and become very close,” Pep Guardiola explained. “She told me about the clinic and her project, about the things she wants to do. As I’ve always believed that sport, health and wellness are all fundamental, she asked me: ‘Why don’t we work together?’ And I replied, ‘Why not?’ And here we are.”
While Guardiola won’t be donning a lab coat anytime soon, he emphasized his intention to be actively involved in supporting the clinic’s mission.
“I’m not going to cure anyone, but I’ll keep her company while she does. I’ve already been doing that for a while.”
Signs of a transition
Having spent nine highly successful years at Manchester City, where he’s won multiple Premier League titles and guided the club to Champions League glory, Guardiola’s future has been a hot topic. Many insiders believe he may take a long sabbatical—possibly 15 years—after his contract expires, potentially retreating to Barcelona to focus on personal and entrepreneurial ventures.
In classic Pep Guardiola fashion, he addressed both his passion and exhaustion with his trademark candor:
“As I am now I’m 75 years old! I’m a wreck, everything hurts right now… A friend of mine once told me that I have three states as a person: euphoric, depressed, and absent. The point is to try to stay in the middle of these three.”
Pep Guardiola: A fierce competitor, evolving visionary
Even as he toys with a future beyond football, Guardiola hasn’t lost his competitive edge. Reflecting on critics who doubted his ability to succeed outside of Barcelona, he said:
“[People in football are] waiting for me to fail? Yes, yes, I’m sure that’s true. And I’m delighted to see them too. Delighted. That gives you energy.”
His track record—dominating in Spain, Germany, and England—has made doubters eat their words time and again. But now, as the possibility of a post-football era looms, Pep Guardiola seems equally focused on leaving a mark off the pitch, in the realms of wellness and human development.
Guardiola’s backing of the Monarka Clinic could be the first visible step toward life after football—an endeavor rooted in purpose, health, and holistic wellbeing.
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