The Italian FA confirms talks about hiring Pep Guardiola after approving a strict rule change.
The Italian Football Association has officially confirmed they are in talks with Pep Guardiola to become their next head coach. Ever since it was announced that Guardiola would leave Manchester City after the 2025/26 season, people have been wondering what’s next for this Premier League legend.
Guardiola is one of the most successful managers in recent years, so it’s hard to guess what job might interest the 55-year-old. Many thought he might take a break from coaching, like his old rival Jurgen Klopp did. But recent rumors suggest he could soon be back on the sidelines, this time as an international coach, with Italy being the top choice.
Italy recently missed out on qualifying for the World Cup for the third time in a row. After that, the Italian FA and current coach Gennaro Gattuso agreed to end their contract by mutual decision. Now, Giovanni Malagò, the president of the Italian Football Federation, said they are willing to bend the rules financially to bring Guardiola on board.
Malagò told the Italian sports media Cronache di spogliatoio, “Financial exceptions have been made, especially for someone as big as Pep Guardiola. But it’s not guaranteed the deal will happen.”
Reports about Guardiola and the Italian job popped up earlier this week. Legendary defender Paolo Maldini, who recently became the technical director of the Italian FA, and his advisor Leonardo are believed to have met with Guardiola in Barcelona in recent weeks.
Guardiola knows Italy well, having played for Brescia and Roma in Serie A, and he speaks Italian fluently — making him a great fit for the national team.
If Guardiola takes the Italy job, some England fans might be disappointed. They hoped he might replace Thomas Tuchel after England’s World Cup exit. While England finished third, their semi-final loss to Argentina has put pressure on Tuchel, who is still under contract until 2028.
Malagò also said that Guardiola isn’t the only option. Former Italy coach Roberto Mancini, who led the team to Euro 2020 victory, and Italy legend Andrea Pirlo are also in the running, especially if Guardiola is unavailable. When asked if those were the only candidates, Malagò replied, “Absolutely not. We have a clear idea of what we want, and these names fit that profile.”