The English Football Association (FA) has been clear that national team boss Thomas Tuchel will sit until at least the European Championship on home soil in two years. – In the last few days, after some tactical blunders and a World Cup without achieving the goal of winning everything, the news came out that both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Pep Guardiola were in talks about the national team manager’s job before they hired broiler coach Tuchel.
The process with Solskjaer did not get very far, while Pep Guardiola did not want to leave Manchester City in the middle of the race.
Read: Andoni Iraola has realised the power Harvey Elliot represents for Liverpool
Two months ago, the news came that Pep Guardiola would quit Manchester City and take a Jürgen Klopp. (long pause)
But if he is relevant for Italy and does not need a year plus in the hammock, he could be the national team manager for England. – I think the stress level is about the same.
Pep Guardiola has had meetings with Italy’s football federation about the position of national team manager, reports Sky Sports Italia. – in their update they report: Guardiola Italy coach, Maldini and Leonardo are waiting for an answer
Technical director Paolo Maldini travelled to Barcelona to persuade the former Manchester City boss to lead Italy towards the Euro 2028.
Guardiola has not yet signalled whether he is interested in the role. According to reports, Maldini and his adviser Leonardo Araujo have presented their plans to Guardiola over three days of talks.
Four-time world champions Italy – who last participated in a championship in 2021 when they beat England in the European Championship final – have been absent from the last three World Cup finals.
Maldini, who himself played 126 caps for Italy, has been tasked with resurrecting Italian football.
Italy last failed to qualify for the World Cup under the leadership of Gennaro Gattuso, who was sacked after losing the play-off match to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March. – It is the third World Cup that Italy has not qualified for.
Guardiola is not alone in being considered for the position. Roberto Mancini, who led Italy to European Championship gold in 2021, and Andrea Pirlo are both under consideration.
Jürgen Klopp confirms: ‘Nothing stands in the way anymore’
Guardiola is without a club for the first time in ten years after leaving Manchester City. He won 20 trophies during his time in the northwest of England, with a win percentage of 70.8.
The 55-year-old had a verbal agreement with England in 2024 to succeed Gareth Southgate, but changed his mind at the last minute – paving the way for Thomas Tuchel’s appointment.
Tuchel is under contract until Euro 2028 and has committed to continuing as England manager after they won bronze in the World Cup – England’s best performance since 1966.
Guardiola has previously stated that he is open to the unknown challenge of managing a national team, although he promised to take a break after leaving Manchester City.
In an interview with chef Dani Garcia in 2024, he said:
“What I’m not going to do is leave Manchester City and go to another country to do exactly the same thing I’m doing now.
“I wouldn’t have had the energy for it. I’m still here doing what I’m doing today. But the thought of starting somewhere else, with all the training process and all that… No, no, no! Maybe a national team, but that’s something else.
There is a clear trend that top club coaches are now moving into national team manager roles. Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, Julian Nagelsmann and Carlo Ancelotti all led their nations in the 2026 World Cup.
Former Liverpool manager, Guardiola’s rival and friend, Jürgen Klopp, is expected to be appointed as Germany’s new national team manager in the next few weeks, after Nagelsmann was sacked after a disappointing World Cup performance.
Now the debate is raging in England as well. “There are two camps, one that thinks Thomas Tuchel must be sacked and one that it is time for an England national team manager, and the other camp believes that Thomas Tuchel should be sacked and that Pep Guardiola should be fired.
