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The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has spoken to former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti about the possibility of taking charge of the crisis-hit national team.
He hopes to announce Italy’s new coach within the week, with the Azzurri still reeling after failing to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row.
Former Italy and AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini was named the federation’s new technical director earlier this month and was present at a meeting with Serie A clubs on Thursday, alongside new FIGC president Giovanni Malagò and special adviser Leonardo.
“Honestly, today we cannot give news about what is happening. You have identified one of our targets,” Maldini said when asked about Guardiola at a press conference after the meeting.
“We cannot hide that we also spoke with Carlo Ancelotti before speaking with Pep. Honestly, it seemed good to start with the best in the world, to see their general availability.”
Guardiola left Manchester City at the end of last season, ending a trophy-laden 10-year spell in which he established City as a force in Europe and changed the face of English football.
Guardiola, 55, has won 35 major titles throughout his coaching career, including at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Maldini and Leonardo recently spent three days in Barcelona to talk to Guardiola about the possibility of accepting the Italy job.
“The best thing would be to announce the new coach this week, but even better to wait for the person we really want,” Maldini said. “So there is urgency, but not as much within us.”
Ancelotti signed a contract extension with Brazil in May until the 2030 World Cup. But the five-time world champion has just had one of his worst performances on football’s biggest stage, as he was eliminated in the round of 16 following a 2-1 loss to Norway.
Ancelotti, 67, 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.
Four-time champions Italy missed a third straight World Cup after a playoff loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March, prompting the resignations of FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and coach Gennaro Gattuso.
Gattuso had replaced the fired Luciano Spalletti only the previous June, when the team was already in trouble after a loss to Norway in its first qualifying match.
Former Italy coaches Roberto Mancini, who led the Azzurri to the Euros in 2021, and Antonio Conte are also among the favorites to take charge of the national team. Andrea Pirlo, who helped Italy reach the 2006 World Cup as a player, would also be in the running.
Information from The Associated Press.
