Pep Guardiola Rejects Italy Coaching Job for Sabbatical Amid Azzurri Rebuild: Report

Pep Guardiola, one of football's most decorated managers, has reportedly turned down an offer to lead the Italy national team, preferring to embark on a planned sabbatical after concluding his illustrious spell with Manchester City in May. The decision comes as a blow to the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), which had identified the Spaniard as their dream candidate to steer the Azzurri out of their current crisis. Jurgen Klopp Appointed Germany Head Coach Until FIFA World Cup 2030.

Pep Guardiola Reportedly Rejects Italy

BREAKING: According to Sky in Italy, Pep Guardiola has turned down the chance to take the Italy head coach job 🚨 pic.twitter.com/4DmeEeE2PR

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 24, 2026

The FIGC, under new technical director Paolo Maldini and president Giovanni Malagò, has been actively searching for a high-calibre manager to take the reins after Gennaro Gattuso resigned in April following Italy's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, their third successive absence from the tournament. Maldini openly confirmed this week, on Thursday, July 23, 2026, that the federation had held talks with both Guardiola and Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti, aiming to secure one of the world's best coaches.

Pep Guardiola's Post-City Plans

Guardiola, who turned 55 in January 2026, departed Manchester City at the end of the 2025-26 season, bringing a close to a dominant 10-year period where he amassed 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the 2023 Champions League. Throughout his career, which also saw immense success at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Guardiola has occasionally taken breaks between roles. As per Sky, his desire for a sabbatical after the intense demands of Premier League football was reportedly a significant factor in his decision, despite Italy's strong pursuit.

Financial considerations also played a role. While the FIGC was prepared to make 'financial exceptions' for Guardiola, his reported salary expectations, potentially double what the federation was offering, presented a substantial hurdle. Guardiola's previous earnings at Manchester City were estimated between €23 million and €24 million per season, a figure notoriously challenging for a national federation to match. Pep Guardiola To Italy? FIGC Confirm Talks With Former Manchester City Coach To Take Charge Of Azzurri: Report.

Italy's Coaching Conundrum

The Azzurri find themselves in a challenging period, having missed the 2018, 2022, and 2026 World Cups – an astonishing downturn for a four-time world champion nation. The federation's objective is clear: to restore Italy to elite status with a long-term project focused on UEFA Euro 2028 and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

After failing to secure Guardiola, and with Carlo Ancelotti having recently extended his contract with Brazil until 2030, the FIGC's search continues. Earlier reports from June 2026 had suggested Roberto Mancini was set to return to the national team role he previously held, leading them to Euro 2020 glory, but recent statements from Maldini indicate the position remained officially open until now. Italy and AC Milan Icon Paolo Maldini Appointed Italian Football Federation Technical Director.

Key figures involved in the ongoing search include:

FIGC President: Giovanni Malagò

FIGC Technical Director: Paolo Maldini

Previous Coach (resigned April 2026): Gennaro Gattuso

The Italian federation aims to announce their new head coach by the end of this week, hoping to bring clarity and a new direction to the national team ahead of upcoming international fixtures.

With Guardiola seemingly out of the picture, all eyes will now be on the FIGC as they weigh their remaining options to find a leader capable of rebuilding the Azzurri and guiding them back to football's biggest stages.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 24, 2026 02:57 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).