Pep Guardiola: How Much Longer Will Coach of the Year Stay at Camp Nou?

When Pep Guardiola made his speech upon accepting the award for Coach of the Year at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Zurich on Monday, he did so in the eloquent, humble style that has come to characterise his time in charge of Barcelona.

Of course, the other thing that has defined his three-and-a-half years in the Camp Nou hot seat is trophies, and lots of them. In that short time he has brought 13 pieces of silverware to Catalonia—including three league titles and two Champions Leagues—to add to the six La Liga championships and the club's first European Cup that he helped bring in as a player.

Guardiola has rarely carried himself in anything less than a statesmanlike manner throughout his time at the helm of the club he has served with such distinction. Even when he momentarily dropped his guard and responded angrily to one of Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho's barbs during their ongoing bitter rivalry last season, he still managed to maintain the moral high ground upon which his club loves to thrive.

However, the 40-year-old seems to have perpetuated uncertainty over his future throughout his reign by never signing to more than just a one-year rolling contract. As with every season, his current deal expires in the summer, and Guardiola remains as guarded over his future as ever.

He said back in December:

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"I can say that winning titles has nothing to do with my final decision. The constant questioning on the subject doesn’t bother me. Once I make my decision, I will inform club president Sandro Rosell."

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Rosell and his predecessor Joan Laporta would never outwardly express any worries that Guardiola's most recent signature would be his last, but in private it must be a fear that plagues them as much as the club's supporters.

Not that Guardiola is necessarily surreptitiously plotting his exit from one of the most successful and entertaining club sides ever assembled, but eventually opportunities at one or more of Europe's other major clubs will open up.

There is currently no reason to suggest that Claudio Ranieri will be Inter Milan's manager for years to come, while Alex Ferguson—who lost out on Monday's vote to Guardiola but received the FIFA Presidential award in recognition of his historic career—recently intimated that he is planning on three more years in charge of Old Trafford as long as his health holds up.

It is reasonable to question why Guardiola would want to leave Barcelona at all. Working for one of the world's biggest and most coveted clubs with many of the best players around (five in this year's FIFPro World XI and two on the three-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or itself) is more than any coach could dream of. 

Not only that, but with Real Madrid greatly improved this season—currently holding a five-point lead over Barca at the top of La Liga—it is perfectly conceivable that Barca could win both Clasicos and still not retain the title. Despite Guardiola insisting that trophies or the lack thereof will not be a factor in him deciding his future, losing ground to Los Merengues, and Mourinho, would be no way to bow out.

But despite his phenomenal success in his first-ever senior management role, he does not hold quite the same universal acclaim as contemporaries such as Ferguson and Mourinho. The main charge against him is that he has not built his exceptional team himself, merely inherited it. While he must take his fair share of credit for the achievements of the greatest club side in a generation, there will always be a mental asterisk against his name in the minds of many.

Unless he plans on spending the next decade at Barcelona in order to usher in a new era at the club that will truly bear his mark, perhaps a move to another European giant in need of rebuilding is the best way for him to truly join the pantheon of great managers, both of his era and all time.

In his speech at Kongresshaus on Monday, Guardiola praised the club for giving him the opportunity to achieve what he has, to the players for their excellence and to the supporters. But he reserved special gratitude for one particular person: his assistant coach, Tito Vilanova.

Perhaps Guardiola has pegged his No. 2—who, like him, is a former Barca player and a coach of the B team—as his eventual replacement. After all, recruiting from within seemed to work pretty well the last time Barca tried it.