Ilkay Gundogan opens door to extending playing career by another four years – Manchester City assistant role also discussed | OneFootball

An assistant coaching role for Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has been discussed by the German this week as he continues the twilight years of his career.

The veteran central midfielder made a remarkable return to the Etihad Stadium towards the end of the last summer transfer window, just one year on from guiding the club to a historic Treble success culminating in a UEFA Champions League Final win over Inter in 2023.

Victory in Istanbul was shortly followed by Gundogan’s contract with Manchester City expiring and the player signing a short-term agreement with FC Barcelona, only for the La Liga giants to insist upon the player’s exit when they ran into financial difficulties in the summer of 2024.

City bosses took no time at all in opting to take advantage of the opportunity to re-sign a player that Pep Guardiola holds in the highest regard, and the Catalan coach has already spoken of his delight at Gundogan’s presence in his squad once more.

Now, speaking during a new interview with German newspaper BILD, Ilkay Gundogan has opened up on what is next in his top-level playing career, revealing that he feels as though he can continue for another four years.

“I have one year left on my contract, and I’m happy about that,” Gundogan said of his Manchester City agreement. “Not just because I’m getting older, where every year is a long way off. But also because I absolutely love being at City.”

The 34-year-old continued, as translated and relayed by the Manchester Evening News, “Honestly, I want to play football for several more years: because I feel absolutely ready for it, I’m very fit, and I take care of my body.

“I feel like I really enjoy football: not just another year, but at least two years, maybe even three or four. I’m already thinking about what comes next. I’m not afraid of those thoughts, though; I’m more excited.

“But my body’s still cooperating, and Pep (Guardiola) isn’t saying to me, ‘Hey, you’re falling off the playing field’.”

The former Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund midfielder has often spoke of his desire to step into coaching beyond his playing career, and has now been quizzed on the possibility of becoming an assistant to Pep Guardiola.

“I didn’t ask him, no. But there’s probably nothing better than starting out as Pep’s assistant. The examples of the past few years have shown that it can pave the way for a coaching career. Being Pep’s assistant coach would be extremely appealing to me,” Gundogan said.

Manchester City had initially re-signed Gundogan to a single year contract from Barcelona on a free transfer last summer, with a further 12 months that would automatically trigger in his deal should he fulfil a certain number of appearances.

Largely due to fitness and injury problems this season, Gundogan has been called upon far more often than many would have expected, playing a vital role both at the base of Manchester City’s midfield and further forward.

City recruitment staff are widely expected to recruit in the centre of the park this summer, both to add much-needed energy to an ageing roster but also to cope with the confirmed and pending departure of Kevin De Bruyne from the creative ranks.