Full Breakdown
Pep Guardiola in the Frame for Italy’s National Team Job
7/22/2026, 9:45:37 PM
Core Event: Italy’s Federation Opens Dialogue with Pep Guardiola
Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Giovanni Malagò confirmed talks with former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola about the vacant head-coach role. He said the FIGC would be ready to make financial exceptions for Guardiola’s expected salary, though no final decision has been announced.
Background & Context
- Italy missed the 2026 World Cup after a penalty loss to Bosnia-Herzegovina in the European play-offs, prompting head coach Gennaro Gattuso to resign in April 2026.
- The federation appointed Giovanni Malagò as president on June 22 and named former AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini as technical director.
- Other former Italy figures, notably Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo, have also been mentioned as candidates.
Data & Statistics
- Guardiola’s club record includes six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups and one Champions League trophy with Manchester City, plus league and continental titles with Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
- Reported Manchester City salary: roughly £20 million per year.
- Gattuso’s 2025-26 contract was £680,000 per year, illustrating the scale of the “financial exception” the FIGC would need.
Official Statements & Responses
- He added that discussions with “other candidates have already begun.”
- Guardiola has publicly said he intends to take a sabbatical from coaching to spend time with family after a decade of continuous management.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Absolutely not. We think about a certain profile and certainly these names fall into that category.” — Giovanni Malagò
- “Yes, and that is the exception for obvious reasons.” — Pep Guardiola
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The FIGC has not issued an official statement confirming any offer or contract terms.
- While several outlets note interest from other national teams, no concrete details have been provided.
- The exact financial figure the FIGC would allocate for a Guardiola contract remains unspecified.
What’s Next
Italy’s next competitive fixture is a home Nations League match against Belgium on September 25. The federation says the search for a permanent head coach will continue through the Euro 2028 qualifying cycle, with the technical director and advisory team expected to present further candidates as negotiations progress.
