Italy’s dream of Pep Guardiola has been shattered. After the embarrassing World Cup exit, the federation has tried everything to lure him to the bench, but the Catalan has rebuffed them with a simple but decisive message: “I don’t feel it.”
18 national teams change national team managers as a result of the World Cup
Now it is England who are left with the uncertainty. – Many hope that even if he does not “feel” Italy, he can “feel” England.
The next national team manager should be English, or Pep Guardiola!
The Italian Football Federation was looking for a new superstar on the coaching bench after the Azzurri once again failed to qualify for a World Cup – this was the third time in a row that they were eliminated in the play-offs, this time against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Read: Agree with Andrea Pirlo after no thanks from Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola, who left Manchester City in the summer after ten years at the club, was seen as the dream solution. But according to the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport , Guardiola has declined with the following reason – as clear as it is honest:
The decision is not said to have been easy for the 55-year-old, and he is said to have spent a long time considering the offer. In the end, however, reason prevailed over emotions.
💰 The economy also played a role
Italian Federal President Giovanni Malagò also made no secret of the fact that the economy was a challenge. In an interview with Italian media, he stated:
🧠 Guardiola needs a break – and is unsure about national team football
According to sources, Guardiola is said to be thirsty for a proper break. After intense years at Bayern Munich and Manchester City – with only one stint 13 years ago – he needs time to breathe.
In addition, he is said to have doubts about whether national team football suits him. It is a completely different everyday life from the daily contact with players at club level, and several experts have pointed out that Guardiola’s micromanaged philosophy can be difficult to transfer to the short periods of national team football.
🏆 A track record few can match
It is not without reason that Italy (and England) were chasing Guardiola. During ten years at Manchester City, he won:
- 6 Premier League titles
- 1 Champions League
- 3 FA Cups
- 5 Carabao Cups
Although he lost the league title for the second year in a row, he walked away with both the FA Cup and the League Cup – a worthy end to an era.
🏴 England are watching eagerly
The English Football Association is monitoring the situation closely. They have had a long-standing eye on Guardiola, and it has previously been reported that there was a verbal agreement for him to take over from Gareth Southgate – until Guardiola changed his mind and stayed at City for another two years.
Now Thomas Tuchel is on the English bench, and despite England crashing out in the World Cup semi-final against Argentina with some major tactical blunders, the federation is currently backing him. However, there have been reports of a thorough review of the World Cup effort – where England eventually finished third – once the dust has settled.
The pressure for an exit for the German coach is growing and many believe that the next person to take over the national team should be English, or Pep Guardiola.
🔮 The road ahead: Euro 2028 is just around the corner
For England, it’s all about the Euro 2028, which they host together with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. They have reached the final of the last two European Championships, and the goal is clear: next time they will take the step all the way in.
Whether Guardiola will one day end up as England manager remains to be seen. So far, he has turned down Italy – and the signals indicate that he is still not ready for national team football.
But one thing is certain: the Pep Guardiola name will continue to make waves in international football for a long time to come.
