Pep Guardiola has emerged as a genuine target for Italy as the federation looks to rebuild after a run of results that has left the national side without a clear direction and, for the third straight cycle, outside the World Cup. The scale of that failure has pushed the conversation beyond a routine appointment and into something more ambitious, with Guardiola’s name now part of internal discussions about how far the reset should go.
Why Guardiola has entered the conversation
The situation around the Azzurri has shifted quickly after the play-off defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed a third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup, extending an absence that goes 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 a clear long-term direction.
Italy’s soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina leaves the FIGC (italian soccer federation) headquarters in Rome, 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 comes into the picture as part of an attempt to make a clear break from recent years, with reports suggesting a move that could shift the mood around Italian football, even if the idea itself sits close to the edge of what is realistically achievable.
What is being said about a possible approach
There is also an expectation inside the federation that the opportunity has 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 listen” 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, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Any appointment would carry historical weight. Guardiola would become only the second foreign manager to take charge of Italy, and the first since Helenio Herrera, the Argentine-born coach who held the role between 1966 and 1967.
Guardiola’s position at Manchester City
At Manchester City, Guardiola remains under contract until 2027 after signing a two-year extension in November 2024, and his focus at present is on the end of the current season.City are chasing an eighth Premier League title in ten seasons, with the current campaign still ongoing from 2014/15 to 2023/24, and are also preparing for an FA Cup semi-final against Southampton at Wembley tomorrow. Across his managerial career, which includes Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Guardiola has won over 40 trophies and could still add more this season. Only Sir Alex Ferguson, with 49 titles across a much longer career, has won more. That record leaves Guardiola in a position where the next step in his career is entirely his decision, with Manchester City expected to accept whatever choice he makes after nearly a decade of success.
The financial reality and possible solution
The biggest obstacle to any move is financial. Spanish media outlet Marca reports that Guardiola earns around €24.8 million gross at Manchester City, a figure that sits far beyond the Italian federation’s recent structure, where Roberto Mancini earned around €3 million net even after winning the European Championship. There is, however, a precedent for bridging that gap. When Antonio Conte took over the national team in 2014, part of his salary was covered by a sponsor, and a similar model could be considered again, with Puma, which has a relationship with Guardiola, mentioned as a possible partner in such an arrangement. The idea would be to build something around Guardiola rather than simply appoint 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 link to Italy
Guardiola has previously made clear that he wants to coach a national team at some point. In a 2021 interview with ESPN, he said: “I would like to have the experience of living 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 hired, as happens with clubs. I don’t know who wants me to work in a 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 in 2018 about the possibility of working there.
Support from within the game and succession plans
The idea has backing from within Italian football. Former defender Leonardo Bonucci said at the Laureus World Sports Awards: “If there’s a real desire to start over, I’d start with Pep Guardiola, because bringing in someone like him would mean making a complete change compared to everything that happened in the past. “I think it’s very difficult, but dreaming right now doesn’t cost anything.” If Guardiola were to leave Manchester City, there is already movement around a replacement. Fabrizio Romano reports that Enzo Maresca is part of a “clear plan” at the club. Maresca, who previously 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 the 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 moves forward and whether a formal approach to Guardiola is made. For now, the situation rests on three moving parts: Italy’s intent to pursue a high-profile appointment, the financial structure required to make it viable, and Guardiola’s own decision on whether the next phase of his career comes at club level or with a national team.
