Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola is one of the most highly regarded young coaches in world football. At 38 he’s already achieved everything possible at club level.

There are rumours circulating in the Spanish media that he could quit his beloved Barcelona next summer, when his contract expires.

Barca through and through

Guardiola is a Barca man through and through. He came through the youth ranks at the club and captained the Catalan club. He spent his best years playing for the club and won the European Cup in Johan Cruyff’s Dream Team.

You can tell how much the club means to Guardiola. It’s in his heart and in his soul. The evidence, if needed, was Guardiola’s tearful reaction to Barca winning the Club World Cup. He is obvious a man that cares deeply about HIS football club and it is very much Guardiola’s club.

Tough Task

Guardiola was appointed as Barcelona boss in 2007 after proving a success with Barcelona’s second side. The decision was something of a strange one because of his lack of experience. Everybody behind the scenes at the Catalan club had faith in Guardiola and that faith proved completely correct.

He managed to swell the negative atmosphere around the club by selling big players with big egos, Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho and Portuguese playmaker Deco. It was a brave move by the fledgling coach but it proved superbly successful. Not only did the exit of the two stars improve the atmosphere but it also allowed now World Player of the Year Lionel Messi to take centre stage in the Barca team.

And since then the former midfielder has made few mistakes as Barca manager. The question is what else can he achieve at Barcelona? He has won an unprecedented amount of trophies in one year and has written himself into the history books. He transformed the club in a few short months and I for one would also say he’s had a big hand in helping Lionel Messi develop into the best player in the world.

Man manager

The 38 year-old was always a leader as player and he has taken that leadership into his managerial career. He has a close working relationship with his players but also knows when to keep his distance, a quality that every great manager needs. The players work hard under Guardiola but would admit that it’s that hard work that has helped the club achieve such success.

What next for Pep?

With just a few months left on his contract Guardiola’s future at Barcelona is in doubt. I can’t imagine that the Barcelona hierarchy will want to lose him but it’s up to Guardiola if he wants to stay at the club. Barcelona president Joan Laporta has certainly made his feeling clear on the subject admitting he wants Pep to stay. However Laporta’s presidency is up next year and it seems Guardiola is waiting to see who his successor will be.

Despite being a Barcelona stalwart there are rumblings that Pep is ready for a new challenge and if the new president is not to his liking he could seek a future elsewhere. He has told of his admiration for the Premier League in the past and that could be his next move. However Serie A could also prove an option for the talented young boss.

His options certainly won’t be limited if and when he does leave the European Champions. The matter of which club he would join would be hard to guess but I hear there could be a situation vacant in the Manchester area come next summer.

I also heard there could very well be a job available on Merseyside in a few months time. However for now Guardiola will be concentrating on beating Real Madrid to the La Liga title and clinching a second consecutive European cup. His future will be decided in the next few months. Barca fans will be hoping he stays and leads them to further glories.

If he does decide to stay, then I can see Barcelona getting stronger and stronger under his leadership. They will certainly give their big spending rivals Real Madrid a run for their money in the coming years.