Fernandinho receives personal coaching request from Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola believes that the experience of Fernandinho should remain in football, after the Brazilian confirmed his retirement from the game this week.

Following an extraordinary playing career that included nine glittering seasons and 383 appearances for Manchester City, Fernandinho’s announcement has sparked discussion about what might come next for the former club captain.

At the Etihad Stadium, his retirement comes at a time when Pep Guardiola and senior staff are increasingly vocal about the importance of former players feeding their knowledge back into the game.

The Catalan coach, who has recently discussed his own long-term future and life beyond football, has been consistent in encouraging former players to transition into coaching roles, including the likes of recently-departed Etihad legend Ilkay Gundogan.

His comments on Fernandinho follow similar reflections made this season about how football’s next generation must benefit from those who played at the highest level, aligning with City’s broader strategic planning behind the scenes.

The club are believed to be quietly assessing succession pathways for life after Guardiola, with names such as Vincent Kompany and Andoni Iraola emerging in reports.

Now, whilst speaking to reporters during a recent press conference, Pep Guardiola spoke of Fernandinho’s retirement and whether the former City midfielder could either take steps into coaching or into the dugout at the Etihad Stadium in future.

“I’m pretty sure he will be involved in football,” said Guardiola. “Now everybody says the same, ‘Time to be with the family, with the kids’ – that’s fine. In a few days, you will say, ‘OK what’s next’. Right?”

Guardiola continued, “And this experience of playing in the top clubs, in the national team, this experience has to be in football.

“A new generation, they have to bring their experience to that, and hopefully he can find the happiness in the decision he is going to take. Congratulations on an amazing, amazing outstanding career. Amazing.”

Quizzed on whether Fernandinho could be a future Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola responded, “Maybe, maybe, maybe. It depends how good he is.

“But the players will be good. When you come here, the players will be fine.”

Pep Guardiola’s public invitation will inevitably increase talk around how and when Fernandinho might re-enter the club environment, with City having had a long-established culture of bringing former leaders back into influential roles.

It also raises the possibility – however distant – of Fernandinho becoming one of the many former players linked with future managerial roles.

With Pep Guardiola’s long-term Etihad future the subject of growing speculation, and reports suggesting an exit in the coming seasons is viewed as a realistic scenario, the club’s ongoing interest in identifying suitable successors creates space for such conversations.

For now, Fernandinho’s next step may involve coaching badges, academy experience, or a role within the broader City Football Group. But with Guardiola himself publicly endorsing the idea, the door is firmly open for the Brazilian to one day return to Manchester City.