Italian football federation president confirms talks with Pep Guardiola

By Rohan Gupta — 22 July 2026 — 3 min read

The president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Giovanni Malago, has confirmed that discussions have taken place with Pep Guardiola regarding the vacant head coach position for the Italy national team. Malago indicated that financial “exceptions” could be made for Guardiola, who recently concluded a successful 10-year tenure with Manchester City.

Guardiola’s departure from Manchester City this summer followed a decade of significant achievements, including six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups, and the Champions League. His time at City built upon previous trophy-laden spells with Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Discussions and potential exceptions

The confirmation from Malago came during an interview with the Italian digital sports media platform Cronache di spogliatoio. Reports from Sky Italia on Monday first highlighted contact between the FIGC and the 55-year-old manager. Malago acknowledged that while talks had occurred, the appointment is not yet certain.

When questioned about the possibility of increasing the budget for a coach’s salary specifically for Guardiola, Malago affirmed that such exceptions were indeed a consideration. He stated, “Exceptions have been made, exceptions that for example may concern the name that is so overbearing in these hours: Pep Guardiola.” He added that these exceptions were for “obvious reasons” but did not elaborate further, reiterating that the appointment is not guaranteed.

Malago stressed the importance of initiating and maintaining dialogue with Guardiola, believing it was the correct approach. Despite the financial considerations, he noted that the outcome remains uncertain.

Other candidates and historical context

Italy has been without a head coach since Gennaro Gattuso resigned in April, following the national team’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. This period has seen Italian football in a challenging phase, particularly after the men’s national team’s recent qualification struggles.

Beyond Guardiola, other prominent figures are also under consideration for the role. These include former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini, who led Italy to victory in Euro 2020 five years ago, and former midfielder Andrea Pirlo, who currently manages Dubai United. Malago clarified that these are not the only candidates, but they fit the desired profile for the national team’s next coach.

Historically, the Italy men’s national team has almost exclusively been managed by Italian coaches. There have been only two exceptions: Hungarian Lajos Czeizler, who was part of a technical committee in the 1950s, and Argentine Helenio Herrera, who served as joint manager with Italian Ferruccio Valcareggi in the subsequent decade.

Guardiola’s Italian connection

While Guardiola has never managed a club in Italy, he possesses a strong connection to Italian football. He is fluent in Italian and spent two seasons playing in Serie A from 2001 to 2003. During this period, he had two spells with Brescia and one with Roma, giving him firsthand experience with the country’s football landscape.

Should Guardiola be appointed, it would mark a swift return to football management after his departure from Manchester City in May. At the time of his exit, he expressed a sense of fatigue, 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 his previous successful stints at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

The Italian Football Federation has been contacted for further comment regarding the ongoing discussions. Italy is scheduled to face Belgium on September 25 in the Nations League.

Source: bbc.com

Rohan Gupta

Sports Reporter