Guardiola declines Italy role
Pep Guardiola has reportedly declined the opportunity to become the next head coach of Italy. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) engaged in discussions with Guardiola over three days in an effort to persuade him to take on the role. However, Guardiola conveyed his decision to the FIGC on Thursday night, with reports indicating his choice was influenced by personal considerations extending beyond football.
The FIGC had sought to appoint Guardiola as the successor to Gennaro Gattuso, who departed from his position in April. Gattuso’s departure followed Italy’s failure to qualify for their third consecutive World Cup. The federation was reportedly prepared to make significant adjustments to their budget to secure Guardiola’s services.
FIGC’s vision for Italian football
Paolo Maldini, a former Italy and AC Milan defender and the FIGC’s new technical director, along with his advisor Leonardo, met with Guardiola in Barcelona. During these discussions, they presented a comprehensive vision for the national team’s future. The proposal extended beyond a simple coaching offer, envisioning Guardiola as a central figure in an ‘Azzurro project’ aimed at rebuilding Italian football from its foundations.
This ambitious overhaul would have encompassed not only the senior national team but also all other national teams. Guardiola, who recently concluded a 10-year tenure with Manchester City, is understood to have listened attentively to the offer. He is currently a free agent for the first time in a decade, having won 20 trophies during his time at Manchester City, achieving a win ratio of 70.8 per cent.
Italy, a four-time World Cup champion, has not qualified for the last three major tournaments since winning the European Championships in 2021 under Roberto Mancini. Their most recent failure to qualify for the World Cup came after a playoff loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March. This outcome led to the resignations of FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and head coach Gennaro Gattuso. Gattuso had taken over from Luciano Spalletti the previous June, following a defeat against Norway in their initial qualifier.
Alternative candidates and Guardiola’s future
With Guardiola declining the role, other candidates are being considered for the Italy head coach position. These reportedly include former Italy coaches Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte, as well as Andrea Pirlo, who played a role in Italy’s 2006 World Cup victory. The FIGC also held discussions with Carlo Ancelotti, the current Brazil manager, regarding the position.
Ancelotti, who signed a contract extension with Brazil through to the 2030 World Cup in May, has won league titles in Italy, England, France, Spain, and Germany. He is also the only coach to have won the Champions League five times. Brazil, under Ancelotti, recently experienced one of their less successful performances on football’s biggest stage, being eliminated in the last 16 of the World Cup after a 2-1 loss to Norway.
Guardiola had previously indicated a desire to take a break from football after his departure from Manchester City. He stated that he needed to step back and spend more time with his family, citing a lack of energy to immediately take on another demanding coaching role with high expectations. He also mentioned that he would not have the energy to fight for titles every day.
In a 2024 interview, Guardiola expressed interest in international management, stating he would not have the energy to move to another country to do the same thing he was doing at Manchester City. He added that a national team role would be different. This sentiment suggests that while he is open to international management, the timing for the Italy role was not suitable for him.
The FIGC, under Paolo Maldini and Leonardo, is focused on finding a suitable successor to Gattuso. Maldini stated that while there is urgency to announce a new coach this week, the priority is to secure the person they truly desire for the role.
Source: skysports.com