Pep Guardiola: "I want to manage in the Premier League"

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 05 January 2016

Pep Guardiola reveals that his reason for leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the season was down to a desire to manage in the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola has dropped the strongest hint yet that his next destination will be with a Premier League club.

The Spaniard revealed last month that he would be stepping down from his role as Bayern Munich boss at the end of the season, with Carlo Ancelotti replacing him at the Allianz Arena.

Speculation has raged as to his next destination, although Premier League clubs Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea are thought to be front-runners in the race for the two-time Champions League winner.

Guardiola insists that he has not yet decided on which club he will join, but stressed that his desire is to manage in England next.

"The reason I have not extended my contract is simple. I want to manage in the Premier League," he told reporters.

"I haven't decided on a new club yet. I think I am young enough. I need a new challenge. My career is a long way from over. When I have a new club, the club will communicate that. At the moment, I can't say anything else because nothing is fixed.

"With a Champions League win, my time here [at Bayern] is complete. I have several offers from England, but I haven't signed anything yet. I want to experience a new city and I want to work in England. That is the reason I have taken this decision."

Guardiola has won two league titles and the DFB-Pokal during his time at Bayern so far.