FIGC in advanced talks with Guardiola for Italy role

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has initiated formal discussions with Pep Guardiola regarding the vacant head coach position for the national team. According to reports from Sky in Italy, FIGC technical director Paolo Maldini and advisor Leonardo travelled to Barcelona for a series of meetings that spanned three days. The talks aim to secure the former Manchester City manager, who departed the Etihad Stadium in May 2026 after a decade-long tenure.

If appointed, Guardiola would become only the second non-Italian to lead the national side, and the first since the 1960s. The 55-year-old possesses a distinct advantage in the form of fluency in Italian and prior experience in the country’s top flight, having played for Brescia and Roma between 2001 and 2003. His potential appointment follows the departure of Gennaro Gattuso in April, a period marked by Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup following a play-off loss to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Guardiola’s return to management would mark a swift transition from club football, where he secured 12 league titles across Spain, Germany, and England. His departure from Manchester City was characterised by an emotional farewell, with the manager citing physical and mental exhaustion as primary factors. He stated that he needed to step back from the daily intensity of club competition, though international football, with its less frequent schedule, may offer a viable pathway back into the game.

The FIGC faces immediate pressure to stabilise the national team, which has missed three successive World Cup tournaments. Guardiola’s primary objective would be to guide Italy through the qualifiers for Euro 2028, hosted in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with the campaign set to begin in 2027. The Azzurri’s next fixture is a Nations League match against Belgium on 25 September at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, a venue where Guardiola previously played for Roma.

Interest in Guardiola extends beyond Italy, with the English Football Association (FA) having previously approached him before appointing Thomas Tuchel. Former England captain Wayne Rooney suggested on The Wayne Rooney Show that Guardiola would be the primary alternative if Tuchel were to be replaced following England’s semi-final exit at the recent World Cup. Tuchel, who signed a two-year extension in February 2025, retains the FA’s backing despite criticism regarding tactical decisions in the tournament.

Other contenders for the Italy role include ex-internationals Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo. However, Guardiola’s extensive trophy cabinet, which includes multiple Champions League titles and domestic trebles, presents a significant contrast to the current struggles of the Italian squad, who currently sit 15th in the world rankings. The FIGC’s decision will likely hinge on whether Guardiola’s desire for a break aligns with the urgent need for leadership in Italian football.