Pep Guardiola Italy job rejected as coach chooses year off
Pep Guardiola still plans at least a year away after Italy approached him, with the FIGC also sounding out Carlo Ancelotti, ESPN reports.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
Pep Guardiola has no plans to take the Pep Guardiola Italy job now, with a source close to the coach telling ESPN he still intends to spend at least one year away from football.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reported Friday that Guardiola had turned down the Italy post. ESPN said a person close to the Catalan coach described any immediate move into the role as off the table because Guardiola wants time away from the game.
Italy are hunting for a new manager after Gennaro Gattuso resigned following an April World Cup playoff defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina, according to ESPN. The opening has put one of football’s biggest national-team jobs back in the shop window.
Why did Pep Guardiola turn down the Italy job?
According to ESPN’s source, Guardiola wants to focus on his personal life after a decade in charge of Manchester City. The same source said his plan remains to take at least a year out before considering a return.
Guardiola left Manchester City at the end of last season, ESPN reported. Before City, he managed Barcelona and Bayern Munich, building one of the most decorated club coaching résumés in modern football.
ESPN reported earlier in the week that Italy were one of four national teams to approach Guardiola after his City exit. The source close to Guardiola said he would be open to international management when he comes back, but not straight away.
The source did not identify the other countries that made contact, according to ESPN. The report added that England and the Netherlands have previously been credited with interest in Guardiola.
Who else are Italy considering?
Italy technical director Paolo Maldini said this week that the Italian football federation, the FIGC, also contacted Carlo Ancelotti about the vacancy, according to ESPN.
Ancelotti is currently Brazil’s coach and has a contract running until 2030. ESPN reported he is expected to remain with Brazil despite the team’s World Cup exit in the round of 16 against Norway.
Other names have also been linked with the Italy job. ESPN cited former Italy coach Roberto Mancini, 2006 World Cup winner Andrea Pirlo and Antonio Conte among those connected to the position.
Mancini previously led Italy to the Euro 2020 title. Pirlo was part of the Italy side that won the 2006 World Cup. Conte has also been mentioned in connection with the vacancy, according to ESPN.
For now, Guardiola’s position appears clear through the reporting: Italy asked, but his break comes first. The FIGC’s search continues with its next appointment still unresolved.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.