Italy pursues Pep Guardiola as national team coach after historic World Cup failure

Pep Guardiola sounded out for the Italian job

Italy's football federation has held talks with legendary coach Pep Guardiola about taking charge of the national team, marking a bold move to reverse the most humiliating period in Azzurri history.

Giovanni Malagò, president of Italy's football federation, confirmed the discussions in an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio published Wednesday, though he cautioned that securing the Spaniard's services remains uncertain.

"I won't go into detail here but it's not sure that this will come about. However, I still believe it was the right thing to do. It was important to open a dialogue and keep it alive."

The 55-year-old Guardiola announced his departure from Manchester City in May after a decade at the helm, during which he collected 20 major trophies including six Premier League titles and the 2023 Champions League. His availability has made him the most sought-after coaching name in world football.

An unprecedented crisis for the Azzurri

Italy's pursuit of Guardiola comes amid an unprecedented crisis for the four-time World Cup winners. The Azzurri became the first former champions in history to miss three consecutive World Cups, failing to qualify for the 2018, 2022 and 2026 tournaments after playoff defeats to Sweden, North Macedonia and Bosnia & Herzegovina respectively.

The latest failure proved particularly painful. On March 31, Italy lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia & Herzegovina after a 1-1 draw, with Alessandro Bastoni's first-half red card leaving the team to play most of the match with 10 men. The defeat was especially striking given that the 2026 edition marked the first expanded World Cup with 48 teams, significantly increasing qualification opportunities.

The scale of Italy's decline extends beyond merely missing tournaments. The Azzurri have not won a World Cup knockout match since lifting the trophy in 2006, with their last appearance at the finals ending in the 2014 group stage. This represents a 16-year absence from football's grandest stage that will extend to 2030 unless the next coach can orchestrate a revival.

The crisis becomes even more puzzling considering Italy won the Euro 2020 title in 2021 under Roberto Mancini, sandwiched between their World Cup failures. That continental triumph only heightened expectations that have since been repeatedly dashed.

Financial flexibility and ongoing talks

Malagò, who was elected federation president on June 23 with 68.58 percent of the vote following Gabriele Gravina's resignation after the World Cup playoff loss, acknowledged that landing Guardiola would require financial flexibility.

Asked whether the budget for the coach's salary could be increased for Guardiola, he responded:

"Yes, and that is the exception for obvious reasons."

According to Sky Sports, Paolo Maldini, appointed as Italy's Technical Director on July 12, and his adviser Leonardo, both AC Milan legends, held three days of talks with Guardiola. The pair explained the scope of the rebuilding project and attempted to convince him to take on the challenge of restoring Italian football's prestige.

Guardiola possesses firsthand knowledge of Italian football from his playing days with Brescia and AS Roma between 2001 and 2003, which could prove valuable if he accepts the role.

Italian media reports indicate that former international players Andrea Pirlo and Roberto Mancini, who guided Italy to the Euro 2020 triumph, are also under consideration as potential candidates.

The road ahead

The new coach will have their first competitive test quickly, with Italy scheduled to face Belgium on September 25 in the Nations League. More importantly, they will be tasked with leading the Azzurri to qualification for the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, representing Italy's next opportunity to end their absence from football's greatest tournament.