Italy’s football federation is actively pursuing a new head coach to help revive the national team’s fortunes after the country narrowly missed qualifying for a third consecutive World Cup. Among the candidates is Pep Guardiola, the former Manchester City manager, who has held discussions with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) regarding the vacant position.
Giovanni Malagò, president of the FIGC, confirmed that talks with Guardiola have taken place but cautioned that no agreement is guaranteed. He indicated that financial exceptions could be made to secure a candidate of Guardiola’s stature, though he did not provide specific details. “Exceptions have been made, exceptions that for example may concern the name that is so overbearing in these hours: Pep Guardiola,” Malagò said in an interview with a local sports platform. “It is not certain that this thing will go through, but it was important to open a dialogue and keep it alive.”
Guardiola, 55, stepped down from his role at Manchester City at the end of the 2025-26 season. During his decade-long tenure, he won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups, and the UEFA Champions League. He also has prior experience in Italian football, having played for Brescia and AS Roma between 2001 and 2003. His coaching credentials, including successful spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, have made him a highly regarded candidate for the Italian role.
In addition to Guardiola, former Italy internationals Andrea Pirlo and Roberto Mancini, who led Italy to victory at Euro 2020, remain under consideration. Malagò emphasized that the shortlist may not be limited to these figures, stating that the federation is considering a “certain profile” suitable for the role.
Italy’s football has faced significant challenges in recent years, including an early exit from European club competitions and a failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after a playoff loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina. These setbacks mark a low point in nearly four decades. The situation has raised concerns at UEFA, with president Aleksander Ceferin issuing a warning about Italy potentially losing co-hosting rights for Euro 2032 due to stadium and infrastructure issues.
The appointment of a new coach is viewed as a crucial step toward rebuilding Italy’s team and revamping its youth and talent development system, which has struggled in recent years. Italy’s next competitive match is set for September 25, when they face Belgium in the UEFA Nations League.
The involvement of football icons Paolo Maldini and Leonardo in discussions with Guardiola highlights the federation’s commitment to securing a high-profile coach who can lead the Azzurri back to international prominence. However, as Malagò noted, while the dialogue with Guardiola is ongoing, the final decision remains uncertain.