Pep Guardiola has emerged as a real target for Italy as the federation looks to rebuild after a series of results that have left the national team without clear direction and out of the World Cup for the third consecutive cycle. The scale of that failure has pushed talks beyond a routine appointment and into something more ambitious, with Guardiola’s name now part of the internal discussion over how far the reset should go.
Why has Guardiola entered the conversation?
The situation around the Azzurri changed rapidly after the play-off defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed a third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup, extending an absence that had lasted back to 2014. Gennaro Gattuso is no longer in charge, while federation president Gabriele Gravina and delegation head Gianluigi Buffon have also stepped down, leaving the national setup without any clear long-term direction.
Italy’s football federation president Gabriele Gravina leaves the FIGC (Italian Football Federation) headquarters in Rome on Thursday, April 2, 2026, after resigning amid political pressure after the national team failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)
Guardiola’s name has surfaced as part of an effort to make a clear break from recent years, with reports suggesting a move that could change the mood around Italian football, even if the idea sits close to the edge of the realistically achievable.
What is being said about the possible approach
There is also an expectation within the federation that opportunities will have to be explored. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that officials feel “it is their duty to contact” Guardiola, with the same report indicating that he would be “happy to hear” if an offer is made, even if there is no certainty beyond that point.
Italy players react during a penalty shootout during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Any appointment will have historical importance. Guardiola would become only the second foreign manager to take charge of Italy, and the first since Argentinian-born coach Helenio Herrera, who held the role between 1966 and 1967.
Guardiola’s position Manchester City
At Manchester City, Guardiola is under contract until 2027 after signing a two-year extension in November 2024, and is currently focused on the end of the current season.City are chasing an eighth Premier League title in ten seasons, with the current campaign still running from 2014/15 to 2023/24, and also prepare for an FA Cup semi-final against Southampton at Wembley tomorrow. In his managerial career, which has included stints at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Guardiola has won more than 40 trophies and could win even more this season. Only Sir Alex Ferguson, who won 49 titles in his long career, has won more titles. This record leaves Guardiola in a position where the next step in his career is entirely his decision, with Manchester City hoping he will accept whatever option he chooses after almost a decade of success.
Financial Reality and Possible Solutions
The biggest obstacle in any step is financial. Spanish media outlet Marca reports that Guardiola earned a total of approximately €24.8 million at Manchester City, a figure that far exceeds the recent structure of the Italian federation, where Roberto Mancini earned around €3 million even after winning the European Championship. However, there is precedent for bridging that gap. When Antonio Conte took charge of the national team in 2014, part of his wages were covered by a sponsor, and a similar model could be considered again, with Puma, which has ties with Guardiola, mentioned as a potential partner in such an arrangement. The idea would be to build something around Guardiola rather than simply appointing him, using his profile to reshape how the national team is perceived as well as how it performs.
Guardiola’s interest in international football and connection with Italy
Guardiola has already made it clear that he wants to coach the national team at some point. In a 2021 interview with ESPN, he said: “I would like to experience a World Cup, a European Championship, a Copa America, whatever. I would like to experience a major national team competition. I don’t know when, in five, 10 or 15 years, but I would like to play in a World Cup as a coach. To work in a national team, you have to be wanted and appointed, as is the case with clubs. I don’t know who wants me to work for the national team.” Italy is not unfamiliar territory for him. He played in Serie A for AS Roma and Brescia Calcio, speaks the language, and has spoken about his admiration for Italian football, once responding “Why not?” When asked about the possibility of working there in 2018.
Support from within the game and succession plans
This idea has the support of Italian football. Former defender Leonardo Bonucci said at the Laureus World Sports Awards: “If there is a real desire to start again, I would start with Pep Guardiola, because bringing in someone like him would mean a complete change compared to everything that has happened in the past. “I think it’s very difficult, but there’s no point in dreaming right now.” If Guardiola is to leave Manchester City, there is already buzz around a replacement. Fabrizio Romano reports that Enzo Maresca is part of a “clear plan” at the club. Maresca, who worked under Guardiola at City before moving into management, is currently unattached after leaving Chelsea FC in January 2026, having won both the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup.
what comes next
Italy are expected to appoint a new federation president on June 22, and that decision is likely to determine how quickly the process progresses and whether a formal approach is made for Guardiola. For now, the situation rests on three dynamic parts: Italy’s intention to pursue a high-profile appointment, the financial structure needed to make it viable, and Guardiola’s own decision whether the next phase of his career will be at club level or with the national team.