Italy hold talks with Guardiola and Ancelotti over coach role

Italy have held talks with Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti as the FIGC steps up its search for a new head coach, with Paolo Maldini confirming both men are among the federation’s leading targets.

The Azzurri are trying to reset after failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, a run that has deepened the sense of crisis around one of international football’s most decorated nations. Maldini, recently appointed as the federation’s technical director, said the process is moving quickly, although Italy are also prepared to wait for the candidate they most want.

Maldini confirms contact with leading candidates

Speaking after a meeting with Serie A clubs, Maldini acknowledged that Guardiola had been identified as one of Italy’s targets. He also revealed that the federation had spoken with Ancelotti before making contact with the former Manchester City manager.

Maldini said it was only natural for Italy to begin by sounding out what he described as the best coaches in the world, in order to understand their general availability. He added that the ideal outcome would be to announce a new coach within the week, but stressed that securing the right appointment matters more than rushing the decision.

Maldini was present at Thursday’s meeting alongside the new FIGC president Giovanni Malagò and special advisor Leonardo, underlining how central the coaching search has become to the federation’s immediate plans.

Guardiola and Ancelotti both high-profile options

Guardiola is currently out of work after leaving Manchester City at the end of last season, concluding a highly successful decade at the club. During that spell, he helped establish City as a major force in European football and further strengthened a coaching reputation already built at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Maldini and Leonardo recently spent three days in Barcelona to speak with Guardiola about the Italy job, a sign of how seriously the federation is pursuing the possibility.

Ancelotti, meanwhile, remains in charge of Brazil. He signed a contract extension in May that runs through to the 2030 World Cup, although his name has still featured prominently in Italy’s thinking. His record makes him an obvious candidate: league titles in Italy, England, France, Spain and Germany, as well as five Champions League triumphs, place him among the most accomplished coaches in the modern game.

Italy seek a way out of a prolonged slump

The urgency behind the search is rooted in Italy’s recent decline. The four-time world champions missed out on another World Cup after a playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March, a result that led to the resignations of FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and head coach Gennaro Gattuso.

Gattuso had only taken over the previous June, replacing Luciano Spalletti, with the national side already struggling after a defeat to Norway in their opening qualifier. The latest setback has left the federation under pressure to make a defining appointment.

For now, Maldini has made clear that Italy are aiming high. Whether the next coach is Guardiola, Ancelotti or another candidate, the message from the federation is that the rebuild will begin with an attempt to secure one of the biggest names in football.