The Italian Football Federation approached Carlo Ancelotti for the vacant national team manager position before holding talks with Pep Guardiola. Technical director Paolo Maldini confirmed the initial outreach on Thursday, as the Azzurri search for a permanent head coach following Gennaro Gattuso’s April resignation.
The Search for a New Azzurri Manager
Italy remains without a head coach following Gennaro Gattuso’s departure in April, a resignation that followed the country’s failure to qualify for a third successive World Cup. Earlier in the week, FIGC president Giovanni Malagò indicated that discussions had taken place with Pep Guardiola, who concluded a decade-long spell managing Manchester City this summer, noting that salary exceptions could be made to secure his services.
However, during a joint press conference in Cortina d’Ampezzo alongside special adviser Leonardo and Malagò, newly appointed technical director Paolo Maldini clarified the federation’s timeline and initial targets. According to sports.yahoo.com, the leadership group met with representatives from the Lega Serie A—the coalition of 20 top-flight clubs—before addressing reporters.
“We cannot deny that we also spoke to Carlo Ancelotti before talking to Pep, and it felt only right to start with those we considered to be the best in the world. So we needed to get a general idea of their availability.”
Paolo Maldini, FIGC Technical Director
Evaluating Top-Tier Candidates and Complex Realities
The federation’s pursuit of elite leadership involved touching base with two of the most accomplished managers in modern football. While Guardiola was contacted during a series of meetings in Barcelona, the approach to Ancelotti presented immediate structural hurdles. Ancelotti took charge of Brazil in 2025 and extended his contract in May until the 2030 World Cup. Despite a Round of 16 exit at the hands of Norway during the 2026 tournament, the Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed that the 67-year-old manager would remain at the helm.
Beyond the high-profile international targets, ca.sports.yahoo.com notes that Andrea Pirlo has also been mentioned in connection with the vacancy, while domestic reports indicate that Antonio Conte retains backing from several Serie A clubs for a potential second stint as national team coach.
“The ideal would be to have the coach by the end of this week, but perhaps even more ideal would be to wait for the person we really want. There is a certain hurry, but not a hasty one.”
Paolo Maldini, FIGC Technical Director
Leonardo emphasized that the federation’s deliberative approach is designed to build a collective project rather than a short-term fix. It is understandable that people are in a rush, we are too, but the process is important to clarify what it is that we want,
Leonardo stated during the briefing. We have some clear ideas in our minds on what to do.
Structural Changes Within Italian Football
The appointment of Maldini and the involvement of Leonardo mark a notable return to Italian football for two figures closely associated with AC Milan.
“I feel the pressure, as seen by how much time it took the President to convince me, as it is a very ambitious project. When Italy calls, it is hard to say no, this was a call to arms.”
Paolo Maldini, FIGC Technical Director
To support the new sporting strategy, the FIGC has established a permanent office within the Lega Serie A. This office will house a dedicated representative for Club Italia to coordinate calendars and technical strategies between domestic clubs and the national team—a liaison role that did not previously exist within the Italian football structure.
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