Ilkay Gundogan issues clear message on future after Manchester City contract update | OneFootball

Manchester City have received a clear message from Ilkay Gundogan over his next steps in the game, just days after a contract extension at the club was publicly confirmed.

The former Germany international made a sensational and emotional return to the Etihad Stadium last summer, just one year on from leaving the club upon the expiry of his contract and a free transfer switch to FC Barcelona.

Financial difficulties at the Catalan club forced an urgent review of their playing squad and it was ultimately decided that the 34-year-old would be the player to depart, with Manchester City swooping in to take their former captain back to the club for no cost.

Gundogan’s return season at the Etihad Stadium has been far from smooth sailing and some would argue that it has taken the club’s former captain several months to readjust to the pace and intensity of English football after a year in Spain.

But given the injury crisis that has struck Pep Guardiola’s squad throughout the campaign, Gundogan has been called upon far more often than he would have initially expected, and as such has triggered an appearance-based extension clause in his contract.

That clause automatically extends his Manchester City agreement through until the end of the 2025/26 season, as confirmed by Pep Guardiola speaking during a recent press conference address with the British media.

But what does the future hold for Ilkay Gundogan beyond then, and could there be a further intention to continue playing, or perhaps leave the game entirely? For the former Borussia Dortmund man, football is where he belongs and a route plan has seemingly been mapped out.

Speaking during a new interview with The National, Ilkay Gundogan confirmed a firm desire to step into coaching beyond his top-level playing career, having taken inspiration from the work of Pep Guardiola in particular.

“I want to continue coaching and I want to progress in that field but it is something that isn’t possible right now because of playing,” said Gundogan. “I have the B licence and next I have to do the A licence and then the Pro.

“I have previously worked with City’s under 16s and I really enjoyed it. I have worked under some amazing coaches and they inspire you. I have had the privilege of working with Pep for several years, it is automatically something I think about and consider for the future.

“When I look at Pep (Guardiola) I see a man with a lot of ideas who tries to take care of every little detail of the game. A man dedicated to finding solutions, who questions himself and everything. In terms of character I am similar.”

The 34-year-old continued, “I question myself a lot and always try to see what I can personally do better not just for me but the team and the whole club in general. Being part of City for so many years I can see myself coaching in the future and of course I love football way too much to stay out of it once my playing career is over.

“I always tell myself I could become a really good coach if I have the guts to do it and the energy and stamina to go for it in the long run. But I know also that it is a lot of work when I see Pep and our coaching staff and the working hours they put in.

“It is much more than a player. It’s a workload you need to accept and be comfortable with. I took the first steps to see if it was something that would interest me and so far it has.”

For now, Ilkay Gundogan is likely to continue playing an important role for Manchester City during the remaining weeks of the ongoing season, with ambitions and goals across competitions at the forefront of the club’s thinking.

Pep Guardiola and his players find themselves seeking a top-five finish in the Premier League in order to secure a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League, while the FA Cup remains a possibility for silverware as they face a last-four clash with Nottingham Forest this month.