Guardiola turns down Italy job after holding talks with FIGC

Pep Guardiola has rejected an approach to become Italy head coach, informing the Italian Football Federation that the national-team project does not fit his plans at this stage of his career, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The former Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City manager had been closely linked with the Azzurri role, which has been vacant since Gennaro Gattuso resigned following Italy’s failure to qualify for this year’s World Cup.

But the Italian sports daily reports that Guardiola has now communicated his decision to the FIGC, ending hopes that he might take charge of the four-time world champions.

Project ‘not suitable’ for Guardiola

Guardiola is said to believe that the Italy job is not the right project for him right now, both in terms of his preferred working methods and the timeframe involved.

The 53-year-old Spaniard is understood to favour a position that involves daily hands-on work on the training ground. Coaching a national team such as Italy would instead require him to rely heavily on an extensive network of scouts and assistants, given the limited time he would spend with players during international windows.

La Gazzetta dello Sport adds that the long-term vision for Italy’s rebuild, presented to him by Paolo Maldini and Leonardo, was another sticking point. Their proposal is reported to span between eight and ten years to restore the Azzurri to what they consider their “natural” level in world football – a duration described as unrealistic for Guardiola.

Desire for extended break after Manchester City exit

The report also states that Guardiola wants a longer period away from management after completing 10 seasons at Manchester City, where he ended his tenure earlier this year.

After a decade in charge at the Etihad Stadium, he is said to be prioritising time with his family and is not ready to commit to a lengthy international project that would tie him down for much of the next decade.

Other big names sounded out

Paolo Maldini has previously revealed that there were earlier discussions with Carlo Ancelotti about the Italy job. However, Ancelotti is now in charge of Brazil and is under contract with the five-time world champions until 2030, ruling him out of contention for the foreseeable future.

Despite Guardiola’s refusal, several high-profile Italian coaches remain in the frame. Andrea Pirlo, Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini are all still regarded as candidates to lead the Azzurri, according to the same report.

Italy facing Nations League tests without a coach

Italy have been without a head coach since Gattuso stepped down after the national side missed out on qualification for the World Cup for the third consecutive edition, a sequence that has deepened concern about the long-term direction of Italian football.

The Azzurri now face a demanding UEFA Nations League campaign still searching for a new man in the dugout. Italy have been drawn in Group A1 alongside France, Belgium and Turkey.

Their campaign is scheduled to begin during the September-October international window, with matches against Belgium and Turkey in September, followed by fixtures against France and Turkey in October.

Luciano Spalletti’s side – now in need of a successor – are then due to complete the group stage in November with back-to-back games against France and Belgium.

With Guardiola out of the running and Ancelotti committed to Brazil, the FIGC must now decide whether to move for one of Pirlo, Conte or Mancini, or widen the search further as the clock ticks down towards the Nations League kick-off.