Pep Guardiola could return to management just weeks after leaving Manchester City, with reports indicating he has held talks with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) over potentially taking over the Italy national team. The 2006 world champions are currently without a head coach after parting ways with Gennaro Gattuso in April.
Italy's World Cup Absence and Coaching Search
Italy, who beat England in the final of Euro 2020 five years ago, failed to qualify for this summer's World Cup after being eliminated by Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-offs. This marks the third consecutive World Cup the Azzurri will miss, prompting the FIGC to intensify their search for a new leader to guide the team to Euro 2028.
Paolo Maldini, the former AC Milan and Italy defender, has been tasked with leading the coaching search. After leaving his role as technical director at San Siro, Maldini has taken on similar duties for the national team. He is being assisted by Leonardo, and the pair are believed to have traveled to Barcelona in an attempt to persuade Guardiola to take the reins, according to Sky Italia.
Guardiola's Previous England Link
This follows earlier reports by The Athletic that Guardiola had a verbal agreement with the Football Association in 2024 to become England's new manager. However, Thomas Tuchel was eventually appointed to succeed Sir Gareth Southgate and Lee Carsley.
Guardiola recently left Manchester City after a decade at the Etihad Stadium, where he won six Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup three times, and the Carabao Cup five times. Should he take over as Italy manager, he would become only the second non-native to hold the role, following Hungarian Lajos Czeizler, who led the Azzurri at the 1954 World Cup.
