Italian football federation confirms talks with Pep Guardiola for national team coach role
Pep Guardiola, the former Manchester City manager, has engaged in discussions regarding the vacant head coach position for the Italy national football team. This was confirmed by Giovanni Malago, president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).
Malago indicated that financial “exceptions” could be made for Guardiola’s salary if he were to take on the role. He shared these details in an interview with the Italian digital sports media platform Cronache di spogliatoio, also known as Cronache di Spogliatoio (Dressing Room Chronicles), which was published on Wednesday. Malago stated that while discussions had occurred, the appointment was not yet certain.
Guardiola concluded his 10-year tenure with Manchester City this summer. During his time in England, he achieved significant success, securing six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups, and the Champions League. His departure from City in May followed trophy-laden spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Italy’s Coaching Vacancy and Candidates
The Italy national team has been without a head coach since Gennaro Gattuso resigned in April. Gattuso’s departure followed the team’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, a significant setback for Italian football. The men’s national team’s inability to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row in March had already put Italian football in a challenging position.
The Italian Football Federation‘s contact with the 55-year-old Guardiola was initially reported by Sky Italia on Monday. Malago confirmed that opening a dialogue and keeping it alive was considered the right approach, even if the appointment was not guaranteed.
In addition to Guardiola, other prominent figures are also being considered for the coaching role. These include former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini, who led Italy to victory in Euro 2020 five years ago. Another candidate is former midfielder Andrea Pirlo, who currently manages Dubai United. When asked if these were the only candidates, Malago responded that they were not, but these names certainly fit the desired profile for the position.
Guardiola’s Italian Connection and Historical Context
Guardiola possesses a direct connection to Italian football, having played in Serie A for two seasons between 2001 and 2003. During this period, he had two stints with Brescia and one with Roma. He is also fluent in Italian, which could be an advantage if he were to take on the national team role. If appointed, it would mark a swift return to football for Guardiola, who expressed fatigue upon leaving Manchester City, stating, “I am so tired. Seriously, I am so tired.” He also reflected on his time at City, noting that the memories from his 10 years there surpassed those from Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Historically, the Italy men’s national team has almost exclusively been managed by Italian coaches. There have been only two exceptions to this trend. The Hungarian Lajos Czeizler was part of the technical committee during the 1950s, and the Argentine Helenio Herrera served as joint manager with Italian Ferruccio Valcareggi in the subsequent decade. This makes the consideration of Guardiola, a Spaniard, a notable development in the context of Italian football management.
The Italy national team is scheduled to face Belgium on September 25 in the Nations League, with the coaching position still to be filled.
The Italian Football Federation has been contacted for further comment regarding the ongoing discussions.
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Source: bbc.com
