The Italian Job: Could Pep Guardiola be Italy’s next coach after the World Cup disaster? The Big Reset is being discussed International Sports News –

Pep Guardiola has emerged as a real target for Italy as the Union looks to rebuild after a run of results that has left the national team without a clear direction and, for the third consecutive session, outside the World Cup.

The scale of this failure has pushed the conversation beyond a routine appointment to something more ambitious, with Guardiola’s name now part of internal discussions about how far the reappointment process should go.

Why did Guardiola enter the conversation?

The situation around the Azzurri changed quickly after a defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off confirmed a third successive failure to qualify for the World Cup, extending an absence dating back to 2014.

Gennaro Gattuso is no longer in charge, and federation president Gabriele Gravina and head of delegation Gianluigi Buffon have resigned, leaving the national team without a clear long-term direction.

Guardiola’s name comes into the picture as part of an attempt to make a clear break from recent years, with reports pointing to a move that could change the mood around Italian football, even if the idea itself is close to the edge of what can realistically be achieved.

What is said about the possible approach

There is also an expectation within the association that the opportunity should be explored. La Gazzetta dello Sport report that officials feel it is their “duty to contact” Guardiola, with the same report suggesting he would be “happy to listen” if an offer is made, even if there is no certainty beyond that point.

Any appointment will have historical weight. Guardiola will become the second foreign coach to coach Italy, and the first since Helenio Herrera, the Argentine-born coach who held this position between 1966 and 1967.

Guardiola’s position Manchester City

Guardiola remains at Manchester City under contract until 2027 after signing a two-year extension in November 2024, and his focus is currently on the end of the current season.City is seeking to obtain the eighth Premier League title in ten seasons, as the current season continues from 2014/15 to 2023/24, and is also preparing for the FA Cup semi-final match against Southampton at Wembley Stadium tomorrow. Throughout his managerial career, which includes Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Guardiola has won more than 40 trophies and can still add more this season.

Only Sir Alex Ferguson, who won 49 titles during his long career, has won more. This 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 almost a decade of success.

Financial reality and possible solution

The biggest obstacle to any move is finances. Spanish media outlet Marca report that Guardiola earns around €24.8 million at Manchester City, a figure that far exceeds the current structure of the Italian federation, with Roberto Mancini earning around €3 million net even after winning the European Championship. However, there is precedent for closing this gap. When Antonio Conte took over as coach of 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 potential partner in such an arrangement.

The idea is to build something around Guardiola rather than simply appoint him, and use his profile to reshape how the national team is viewed as well as how it performs.

Guardiola’s interest in international football and his connection to Italy

Guardiola previously explained that he wants to coach a national team at some point. In a 2021 interview with ESPN, he said: “I would like to experience the World Cup, the European Championship, the Copa America, or something else. I would like to experience a major competition for the national team. I don’t know when, in five, 10, 15 years, but I would like to play in the World Cup as a coach. To work in a national team, you have to be wanted and recruited, as happens with clubs.”

“I don’t know who wants me to work in the national team.” Italy is not unfamiliar territory for him. He played in Serie A with Roma and Brescia Calcio, speaks the language, and spoke of his admiration for Italian football, once answering, “Why not?” When asked in 2018 about the possibility of working there.

In-game support and succession plans

The idea has support from within Italian football. “If there was a real desire to start over, I would start with Pep Guardiola, because bringing someone like him would mean making a complete change compared to everything that happened in the past,” former defender Leonardo Bonucci said at the Laureus World Sports Awards. “I think it’s very difficult, but now it costs nothing to dream.”

If Guardiola leaves 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 in January 2026, having won the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup.

What comes next?

Italy is expected to appoint a new president of the federation on June 22, and this decision is likely to determine how quickly the process will progress and whether a formal approach will be reached with Guardiola. At the moment, the situation depends on three moving parts: Italy’s intention 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 will come at club level or with the national team.