Italy hold talks with Pep Guardiola regarding national team head coach role
The Italian Football Federation has held talks with Pep Guardiola as they attempt to convince the former Manchester City manager to become their new head coach.
Paolo Maldini, the federation’s new technical director, alongside his advisor Leonardo, recently travelled to Barcelona to meet with the decorated Spanish manager.
The ambitious approach follows the departure of Gennaro Gattuso in April after the Azzurri failed to qualify for a third successive World Cup tournament.
A monumental rebuild
Italy have suffered a dramatic fall from grace since winning the European Championships under Roberto Mancini in 2021.
Missing out on the upcoming summer showcase in North America prompted a structural overhaul within the national setup, leading to the appointments of AC Milan legends Maldini and Leonardo.
The newly appointed hierarchy spent three days detailing their project to the Catalan tactician in a bid to secure his signature.
If the audacious move proves unsuccessful, former managers Mancini and Andrea Pirlo remain on the shortlist of potential candidates.
Guardiola’s sabbatical stance
The esteemed coach is currently a free agent after ending a glittering decade-long association with the reigning Premier League champions.
He departed the Etihad Stadium having accumulated an astonishing 20 major trophies and boasting a phenomenal win ratio of over 70 per cent.
However, securing his services immediately may prove difficult given his previous public insistence on taking a prolonged hiatus from the dugout.
“No plans for coaching for a while. Otherwise I would be here. I need to step back.”
Pep Guardiola
During his farewell press conference in Manchester, the serial winner admitted he currently lacked the daily energy required to fight for major titles.
He also expressed a strong desire to spend more time with his family, particularly his father and children, after years of relentless pressure.
Previous international links
This is not the first time the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has been heavily linked with a transition to international football.
In 2024, widespread reports suggested he had reached a verbal agreement with the Football Association to succeed Gareth Southgate as England manager.
Whether the allure of resurrecting a historic European heavyweight is enough to cut his planned sabbatical short remains to be seen.