Italy are ready to attend to nominate their first-choice head coach, with new Azzurri technical director Paolo Maldini revealing that talks have taken place with Carlo Ancelotti and Josep Guardiola.
Italy did not qualify in 2018, 2022 and 2026, making them the primary former World Cup champions to overlook three consecutive tournaments this 12 months.
They misplaced in a penalty shootout to Bosnia and Herzegovina within the qualifying playoffs in March, and the champions then misplaced to the USA within the final 32 of the match.
Gennaro Gattuso was sacked because of this failure, and there are rumors that a number of managers might be appointed to the Italian nationwide group, together with Roberto Mancini, Antonio Conte and Andrea Pirlo.
However in current weeks there was rising hypothesis {that a} breakthrough deal might be struck to nominate former Manchester Metropolis supervisor Guardiola.
Giovanni Malago, the brand new president of the Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC), mentioned earlier this week that monetary “exceptions” might be made for Guardiola’s invitation.
Nevertheless, at a press convention held on Thursday to introduce Mancini because the group’s new technical director and Leonardo as his advisor, it was confirmed that Ancelotti had additionally been approached, regardless of his contract with Brazil remaining till 2030.
Mancini mentioned: “Ideally, we wish to appoint a supervisor by this week, however we might slightly watch for the individual we actually need. We’re in a rush, however internally it isn’t a lot.”
“Guardiola? We will not provide you with any information, you might have recognized one of many targets, however we additionally spoke to Ancelotti.
“It appeared proper to begin with the perfect coaches on the earth, however we have to examine their normal quota.”
Paolo Maldini appointed as new FIGC technical director and Membership Italia president
https://t.co/uvOnDBHVqB #Nazionale #Azzurri #Vivo Azzurro pic.twitter.com/3dQxchABaJ
— Italian nationwide group (@Azzurri) July 11, 2026
Italy gained Euro 2020 below Mancini, however other than that success, their current ends in the match have been dismal.
They misplaced within the group phases of the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, and haven’t performed a ultimate in FIFA’s flagship match since defeating France on penalties within the 2006 ultimate.
And Maldini, who retired from worldwide soccer earlier than the 2006 World Cup after taking part in within the 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002 tournaments, is relishing the duty of returning the Azzurri to the world’s greatest groups.
“We really feel an incredible duty and strain. That is an formidable venture. This can be a name to arms and it’s tough to say no when Italy calls,” Maldini mentioned.
“I did not know in regards to the preliminary difficulties, however I noticed what might be completed, the potential of one thing, and the willingness of everybody to take part on this rebuilding.
“This was necessary for my selection, and so was President Marago’s persuasiveness. I did all the things in my energy to steer Leo. We have now frequent values.”
Italy’s subsequent match might be in opposition to Belgium within the Nations League in September, however France and Tourquier have additionally been drawn alongside these groups in a tricky group.
