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Italian federation president discusses hiring Guardiola as national coach

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 22, 2026, 9:57 AM

Last updated Jul 22, 2026

Italian federation president discusses hiring Guardiola as national coach

Summary

Giovanni Malagò, president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), has confirmed ongoing discussions with Pep Guardiola regarding the role of head coach for the national team. The federation aims to prepare the Azzurra for the 2030 World Cup after missing recent tournaments, including 2018, 2022, and the upcoming 2026 event. Malagò indicated that breaking financial norms may be considered to secure Guardiola's services, given his significant reputation. The discussions involve other potential candidates, including Andrea Pirlo and Roberto Mancini, as FIGC assesses its options amidst the challenging of securing a top coach.

Source Links

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Key Details

•Giovanni Malagò confirms talks with Pep Guardiola.
•FIGC aims to prepare for the 2030 World Cup.
•Italy missed the 2018, 2022, and 2026 World Cups.
•Financial concessions may be made to attract Guardiola.
•Italy is also considering Andrea Pirlo and Roberto Mancini.

Latest Updates

9:57 AMYahoo Sports — Italian federation president confirms talks with Guardiola 🇮🇹

What they're saying

"
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has confirmed that it has a clear and ambitious target to get the Azzurra back to a World Cup: Pep Guardiola.The federation’s president, Giovanni Malagò, publ...
— Yahoo Sports

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