TOI World4/24/2026SportsIndia
Italy Targets Pep Guardiola as National Team Coach After Third Straight World Cup Failure
Federation explores ambitious appointment as Guardiola's reported interest in national team football meets Italian job vacancy
Quick Look
- Italy's soccer federation is exploring an approach for Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as the national team seeks a major rebuild after failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
- Officials feel obligated to contact Guardiola, who would become only the second foreign manager in Italy's history.
- The biggest obstacle is financial—Guardiola earns €24.8 million at City, far beyond the federation's usual structure—but a sponsor-backed model similar to Antonio Conte's appointment could bridge the gap.
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Italy's soccer federation is exploring an approach for Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as the national team seeks a major rebuild after failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. Officials feel obligated to contact Guardiola, who would become only the second foreign manager in Italy's history. The biggest obstacle is financial—Guardiola earns €24.8 million at City, far beyond the federation's usual structure—but a sponsor-backed model similar to Antonio Conte's appointment could bridge the gap.
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This article was originally published by TOI World.