Pep Guardiola has led Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona with great success. There is no disputing his status as one of the best managers of all time.
He has been voted the world’s best manager three times, has won the Champions League three times (two with Barcelona and one with Manchester City) and not only that, in addition to winning a number of cups, he has brought home three La Liga trophies, three Bundesliga trophies and a whopping six Premier League trophies.
Everton breathe life into the hunt for Norwegian superstar
Italy, who are in complete disarray after missing their third World Cup in a row, need one of Pep Guardiola’s calibre. They are willing to pay, which the BBC reports today.
– now he can be Italy’s next national team manager. Federal President Giovanni Malago confirms this.
Guardiola left Manchester City this summer after ten successful years in England. During that period, he won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups and the Champions League. After Gennaro Gattuso resigned in April – after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row – the “Azzurri” have been without a manager.
On Monday, Sky Italia reported contact between the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and the 55-year-old. Now Malago confirms that there have been talks with the Spaniard – and that “exceptions” may be made for his salary.
– Exception for an overwhelming name
“[financial] exceptions have been made – exceptions that can, for example, apply to the name that has been so overwhelming in these hours: Pep Guardiola,” Malago says in an interview with the Italian sports platform Cronache di spogliatoio.
“Exceptions for obvious reasons that I will not explain here, but it is not certain that this will happen.
BBC Sport has contacted Italy’s football federation for a comment.
More candidates in the picture
Another former Manchester City manager, Roberto Mancini – who led Italy to European Championship gold five years ago – as well as former midfield profile Andrea Pirlo, who now manages Dubai United, are also being considered for the job.
When asked if Guardiola, Mancini and Pirlo are the only candidates, Malago answers:
“Absolutely not. We think of a particular profile, and these names definitely fall into that category.
Italian history can be written
The Italian men’s national team has only had foreign coaches on two occasions in its history. Hungarian Lajos Czeizler was part of the technical committee in the 1950s, and legendary Argentine Helenio Herrera shared the managerial role with Italian Ferruccio Valcareggi in the 1960s.
Guardiola has never coached in Italy, but speaks fluent Italian and spent two seasons in Serie A from 2001 to 2003 – with two stints in Brescia and one in Rome.
Quick return after City’s exit
If he is appointed Italy’s national team manager, it will be a quick return to football after the City adventure ended in May. Then he said himself:
“I’m so tired. Seriously, I’m so tired. The memories I have of Barcelona and Bayern Munich are unmatched, but the baggage of memories from ten years here is bigger than anything else.
Guardiola’s time at City came after a trophy-filled spell at Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Now he could be Italy’s next big experiment – with historical economic exceptions at stake.
Pop idol: Adam Driver has turned down Marvel roles for so long that it has become “a long-standing tradition”
