Leonardo Bonucci urges Italy to appoint Pep Guardiola as new manager
Former Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci has urged the national team to appoint Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola as their new manager following a third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup.
The Azzurri are searching for a new head coach after a devastating penalty shootout defeat by Bosnia ended their hopes of reaching the upcoming global tournament.
This shock exit means the four-time world champions have now missed three consecutive World Cups, having last appeared on the grandest stage in 2014.
The fallout from the qualification disaster has been severe, prompting head coach Gennaro Gattuso to step down from his position immediately.
Sweeping changes at the top
The crisis has also engulfed the country’s football federation, resulting in the resignation of president Gabriele Gravina.
Legendary former goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has additionally relinquished his role as the national team’s delegation chief.
Current Napoli coach Antonio Conte and Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri have emerged as early frontrunners for the vacant dugout role.
However, Euro 2020 winner Bonucci believes an ambitious move for the current English Premier League champion is required to overhaul the struggling setup.
“If we want a radical change in the national team, I’d say the right man for the job is Pep Guardiola,” Bonucci stated.
“It’s very difficult, but dreaming costs nothing.”
Guardiola’s uncertain future
The Catalan tactician is currently contracted to the Etihad club until June 2027.
Despite achieving unprecedented success during his decade-long tenure in Manchester, he has previously expressed a desire to manage an international side at a major tournament before retiring.
The highly decorated manager could secure yet another domestic title this season, with his meticulously rebuilt squad remaining in a commanding position.
Italy, meanwhile, have suffered a dramatic decline since their memorable European Championship triumph against England at Wembley.
Bonucci, who scored the crucial equaliser in that final, insists that significant structural changes are vital for his nation’s footballing revival.
“We need to have the courage to face up to what’s happening so that we can regain the respect of the whole world and become that great national team that was world champion,” he explained.
“Italy needs time and a partnership between politics and football so that both can move in the same direction.”
“There are young players with a lot of talent; we need to nurture them and let them develop, and start afresh. The only magic formula is time.”
