Italy approaches Pep Guardiola for national team coaching role

By Liam Tremblay — 20 July 2026 — 3 min read

Italy’s Pursuit of Guardiola

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has reportedly contacted Pep Guardiola regarding the vacant head coach position for the men’s national team. This outreach follows Guardiola’s recent departure from Manchester City, where he spent a decade as manager. The conversation, however, was brief, lasting “barely one minute,” as Guardiola has expressed an intention to take a break from football.

According to reports, Paolo Maldini, the new technical director of the FIGC, and his advisor, Leonardo, travelled to Barcelona to meet with Guardiola. These discussions reportedly spanned three days, during which they outlined their vision for the Italian national team. The FIGC’s efforts are part of a significant restructuring within Italian football, prompted by the national team’s failure to qualify for multiple recent World Cup tournaments.

The manager position for Italy became open after Gennaro Gattuso left the role in April. Italy has not qualified for the last three major tournaments since winning the European Championships in 2021 under Roberto Mancini. The team has also failed to qualify for the last two World Cups.

Guardiola’s Post-City Plans and International Interest

Guardiola recently concluded a highly successful 10-year tenure with Manchester City, during which the club secured 17 major trophies. His achievements include leading City to a Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup treble in the 2022-23 season, a feat previously accomplished by Manchester United in 1999. Guardiola’s time at City marks his longest spell at any club, surpassing his tenures at Barcelona (2008-12) and Bayern Munich (2013-16).

His influence extended beyond trophies, as he is credited with transforming English football through a possession-based style of play that has been widely adopted. Despite his success, Guardiola has indicated a desire for time off. He previously stated that he would take a break from football after leaving City, citing a need to spend more time with his family as a primary reason for his decision. He mentioned that he would not have the energy to immediately take on another demanding coaching role.

Guardiola is a free agent for the first time in a decade, having ended his association with Manchester City. During his time at the club, he won 20 trophies and maintained a win ratio of 70.8 per cent. He has also reportedly been contacted by three other national teams regarding coaching opportunities.

The Appeal of International Management

While Guardiola has expressed a need for a break, he has also previously shown interest in international management. In a 2024 interview, he indicated that he would not have the energy to move to another country to perform a similar club role, but that a national team position could be different. He stated that the thought of starting a new club project with all the associated training processes would be too demanding.

The FIGC’s new technical director, Maldini, and his advisor, Leonardo, are part of a significant shake-up in Italian football following the national team’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. They are tasked with finding a successor to Gattuso. Other candidates reportedly considered for the role include Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo.

Guardiola’s interest in international management stems from the different demands compared to club football, potentially offering a better work-life balance. He has achieved considerable success in club football, making the challenge of international management potentially appealing. The Italian Football Federation is actively seeking to convince him to take on the role.

Source: sportsnet.ca