Italy hold talks with Guardiola and Ancelotti as coach search intensifies

Italy’s search for a new national-team coach has moved quickly to two of the biggest names in world football, with reports that the Italian football federation has held talks with Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti. The discussion comes at a difficult moment for the Azzurri, who are still absorbing the disappointment of failing to reach the World Cup for a third straight edition. That run has put renewed pressure on the federation to find a figure capable of restoring stability, belief and results. According to The Guardian’s reporting, the FIGC has explored the possibility of bringing in Guardiola, formerly of Manchester City, and Ancelotti, who is currently in charge of Brazil. The federation is said to be hoping to name a new coach within the week. That timetable suggests Italy want to move decisively rather than allow the uncertainty to drag on. For a national team with Italy’s pedigree, the stakes are obvious: missing one World Cup can be painful, but missing three in a row has become a wider institutional crisis and a serious concern for supporters. Any deal would depend on the availability of the candidates and on whether the federation can persuade a high-profile club or national-team coach to take on the role. Guardiola is currently out of work, while Ancelotti remains tied to Brazil, which makes the latter option more complicated at least on paper. Even so, the fact that the FIGC is speaking to names of that stature underlines both the scale of the job and the urgency around it. Italy need more than a short-term fix; they need a coach who can handle the pressure, reset the team’s identity and guide them through the next qualification cycle without another collapse. For now, the exact shape of the negotiations remains unclear. The report does not say how advanced the talks are, whether either coach is open to the role, or whether other candidates are also in the frame. But the direction of travel is clear enough: Italy are casting widely and aiming high. If the federation does announce a new coach within days, it will be one of the most closely watched decisions in Italian football in years. After a string of painful qualification failures, supporters will be looking for more than a headline name. They will want signs that the national team can finally turn a difficult period into a proper reset.

Source: The Guardian Football - https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/23/paolo-maldini-italy-pep-guardiola-carlo-ancelotti-world-cup-new-manager