Guardiola Eyes Italy: A Shock Three-Way Pursuit for the Azzurri Coaching Job
2 April 2026
Background
Gennaro Gattuso's potential resignation continues to fuel speculation about replacements as Italy failed to reach the World Cup this summer.
Gabriele Gravina, the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), held an emergency meeting today and announced his own resignation following Italy's World Cup qualification miss.
With Gravina stepping down, Gattuso's tenure looks precarious, opening the door to a search for a new coach.
The incoming coach could take charge this summer to launch a long-term project with the Azzurri, who must start from scratch after years of absence from the World Cup.
Contenders
In Italy, two names stand out as the strongest internal candidates: Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte, though a surprise option could enter the mix.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the third — and perhaps the most intriguing — candidate is Pep Guardiola, whose future at Manchester City remains uncertain.
While appointing a foreign coach to the Italian national team would be unusual, the possibility is not off the table.
Read also: Vinicius and Valverde miss Real Madrid training ahead of Mallorca clash.
Punchline 1: If Guardiola does take the job, expect every press conference to come with a side of pizza-ordering and 4-3-3 maps on the placemats.
Punchline 2: And if Italy hires Guardiola, the pizza isn’t the only thing that will be well-structured—the defense might finally stop conceding offside jokes.
