Italy make brief Guardiola inquiry as coach hunt drags on
ESPN reports Italy contacted Pep Guardiola over their vacant job, but were told he plans to take at least a year away after Manchester City.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Italy’s swing at Pep Guardiola lasted about as long as a quick throw-in.
The Italian Football Federation contacted Guardiola about becoming the national team’s next coach after Italy failed to qualify for this summer’s World Cup, a source told ESPN. According to that source, the discussion with the FIGC was barely “one minute” because Guardiola intends to take “at least” a year away from football once he leaves Manchester City.
ESPN reported that Italy are not the only national side sniffing around. Three other countries have contacted Guardiola’s camp in recent weeks about whether he would consider moving into international management.
The response, according to ESPN’s source, has been the same each time: the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager is planning a sabbatical. Some of the interested federations indicated they could wait, ESPN reported, with no major international tournaments scheduled for next year.
Italy’s big-name hunt
ESPN said the source could not identify the other national teams that made contact. The Netherlands have been credited with interest elsewhere after Ronald Koeman left following their World Cup round-of-32 defeat to Morocco.
England have also been repeatedly linked with Guardiola. ESPN reported that the Football Association’s position is to continue with Thomas Tuchel despite England’s World Cup semifinal loss to Argentina, though Guardiola could be open to the England job later.
Italy’s coaching search has been slow after the Azzurri missed the World Cup following an April playoff defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina. ESPN reported that several factors held up the process.
The FIGC first needed to choose a new president. Giovanni Malagò was elected on June 22, beating Giancarlo Abete to the role.
The federation has also reshaped its football operation. Former AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini has been named technical director of the national team, while former Brazil international Leonardo has joined as a consultant to assist with the manager search, according to ESPN.
Conte and Mancini still in the frame
Guardiola is the headline-grabbing name, but ESPN reported that Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini are currently the leading candidates. Andrea Pirlo has also been linked with the post.
The job comes with a brutal recent World Cup record. Italy have now missed three straight tournaments, failing to qualify in 2018, 2022 and 2026. Before that, they went out in the group stage in both 2010 and 2014.
That slump followed Italy’s fourth World Cup title in 2006. Their European Championship record has been kinder: Italy won Euro 2020, played in 2021, with Mancini in charge.
For now, ESPN’s reporting points to a familiar answer from Guardiola’s side. The phone may keep ringing, but the message is that he is stepping away first.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.