Guardiola and Ancelotti Top Italy's Wish List as Crisis-Hit Azzurri Seek New Coach
· 3 min read ·
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has opened discussions with two of football's most celebrated coaches — Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti — as it searches for a new manager to lead its crisis-hit national team.
The Azzurri are still reeling from failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, a remarkable decline for a four-time world champion. Federation officials hope to announce a new head coach within the week, though they acknowledge the importance of landing their preferred candidate rather than rushing the process.
Maldini Confirms Dual Approach
Former Italy and AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini, appointed as the federation's new technical director at the start of the month, addressed the coaching search during a news conference following a meeting with Serie A clubs on Thursday. New FIGC president Giovanni Malago and special adviser Leonardo were also present at the gathering.
When asked about Guardiola, Maldini confirmed the former Manchester City manager is among the federation's targets. He also revealed that the FIGC had spoken with Ancelotti before reaching out to Guardiola.
"Honestly, we can't hide that we also talked with Carlo Ancelotti before talking with Pep," Maldini told reporters. "Honestly, it seemed right to start with the best in the world, to see their general availability."
Maldini and Leonardo recently spent three days in Barcelona holding talks with Guardiola about the Italy position, underscoring the federation's determination to secure a high-profile appointment.
Guardiola's Availability After City Departure
Guardiola left Manchester City at the end of last season, bringing to a close a trophy-laden 10-year spell in which he established the club as a European force and transformed the landscape of English football.
The 55-year-old has won 35 major titles across his coaching career, including successful spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich before his decade-long reign at City.
While the federation would prefer to make an announcement this week, Maldini stressed that patience may be necessary to secure the right person for the job.
"The best thing would be to announce the new coach this week, but even more to wait for the person we really want," Maldini said. "So there's urgency, but not so much inside us."
Ancelotti's Complications with Brazil
Ancelotti presents a more complex situation for the FIGC. The 67-year-old signed a contract extension with Brazil in May that runs through the 2030 World Cup. However, the five-time world champions endured one of their worst performances on football's biggest stage, eliminated in the round of 16 after a 2-1 loss to Norway.
Ancelotti's coaching resume remains unmatched in European competition. He is the only coach to have won the Champions League five times and has claimed league titles across five of Europe's top leagues — Italy, England, France, Spain, and Germany.
Italy's Downward Spiral and Other Contenders
Italy's coaching vacancy stems from a dramatic collapse in form and results. The four-time World Cup champions missed out on a third straight tournament after a playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March, which prompted the resignations of both FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and head coach Gennaro Gattuso.
Gattuso had only taken over the previous June, replacing the fired Luciano Spalletti. The squad was already flailing at that point, having suffered a defeat to Norway in its opening qualifier.
Beyond Guardiola and Ancelotti, several other prominent names remain in contention. Former Italy coaches Roberto Mancini — who guided the Azzurri to the European Championship title in 2021 — and Antonio Conte are among the favourites to take charge. Andrea Pirlo, who helped Italy capture the 2006 World Cup as a player, is also reportedly in the running.
As the FIGC weighs its options, Italian football fans are left waiting to see who will be entrusted with restoring the Azzurri to their former glory. Will it be one of the two coaching titans, or a familiar face from Italy's recent past? Share this article and let us know who you believe should take the helm of the national team.
