According to reports, Ilkay Gundogan, the former captain of the German national team who is nearing the end of his professional career, is keen to begin his coaching journey as an assistant to Pep Guardiola. However, he has no immediate plans to retire, as he still wants to continue playing professionally.

The 34-year-old Manchester City midfielder said in an interview with Bild yesterday: “I feel like I’m still enjoying football a lot. So, I don’t just want to play for another year—I want to play for at least two to four more years.”

“But I’m already thinking about what happens after my playing career ends. I’m not afraid of these thoughts; it’s more like anticipation and excitement. My body is still in good shape.”

Gundogan claimed he hasn’t yet asked Guardiola for an assistant role but said: “Perhaps there’s no better way to start a coaching career than as Guardiola’s assistant. Recent examples have shown that this can pave the way for a successful managerial career. Working as Guardiola’s assistant would be very appealing to me.”

His desire to continue playing may surprise many Manchester City fans, especially given the challenges he has faced this season.

The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder left Manchester City in 2023 but returned after just one season at Barcelona when things didn’t go as planned. His contract with Manchester City has now been automatically extended until 2026.