Italy targets Guardiola and Pirlo for head coach position
The Italian Football Federation is looking for a new head coach following a streak of three missed World Cups, narrowing their search to Pep Guardiola and Andrea Pirlo.
Italy is looking to overhaul its national team structure after missing the last three editions of the World Cup. With the countdown to the 2030 tournament already underway, the federation has appointed club legend Paolo Maldini as sporting director to lead the search for a new head coach.
Pep Guardiola remains the primary target for the Italian bench. Despite his recent departure from Manchester City, securing the Spaniard presents significant hurdles. Beyond the substantial financial requirements, which far exceed the federation's current budget, Guardiola has indicated a desire to take a break from coaching to spend time with his family.
The federation is exploring potential support from sponsors and Serie A to bridge the financial gap, but they are also preparing a contingency plan.
If negotiations with Guardiola prove unsuccessful, Andrea Pirlo is the leading candidate. The management believes Pirlo's profile as a younger coach, with experience at clubs like Juventus and Sampdoria, makes him well-suited to manage the high-pressure project of rebuilding the Azzurri.