Pep Guardiola has engaged in discussions regarding the position of Italy national team head coach, according to Italian Football Federation president Giovanni Malago. The 55-year-old departed Manchester City this summer following a decade-long tenure that yielded six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups, and the Champions League title.
Malago discussed the possibility during an interview with Cronache di spogliatoio, an Italian digital sports media outlet. He acknowledged that discussions had taken place with the Spaniard and indicated that financial “exceptions” could potentially be made regarding compensation. Malago stated that “exceptions have been made, exceptions that for example may concern the name that is so overbearing in these hours: Pep Guardiola,” while cautioning that “it is not certain that this thing will go through.”
Italy has been without a permanent head coach since Gennaro Gattuso’s resignation in April following the national team’s failure to secure qualification for a third consecutive World Cup. Other candidates under consideration for the role include Roberto Mancini, who previously guided Italy to Euro 2020 victory, and Andrea Pirlo, currently managing Dubai United. When asked whether these three represent the complete candidate pool, Malago stated: “Absolutely not. We think about a certain profile and certainly these names fall into that category.”
Guardiola has no previous managerial experience in Italy, though he is fluent in Italian and spent two seasons as a player in Serie A from 2001 to 2003, including stints at Brescia and Roma. Italy’s national team has historically been managed by Italian nationals, with only two exceptions: Hungarian Lajos Czeizler in the 1950s and Argentine Helenio Herrera as joint manager in the following decade. Should Guardiola accept the position, he would return to active management shortly after departing Manchester City.
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