Italy have contacted Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti as part of their search for a new national team manager, with technical director Paolo Maldini confirming the Italian Football Federation has also held discussions with Pep Guardiola.
The Azzurri are rebuilding after missing a third consecutive World Cup. Gennaro Gattuso stepped down in April following Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2026 tournament, leaving the federation searching for a high-profile successor.
Speaking after a meeting at Serie A headquarters, Maldini admitted Italy had approached two of football’s biggest coaching names.
“Guardiola? We cannot confirm anything at this stage. You have identified one of our targets correctly, but we have also spoken to Ancelotti.”
Maldini said the federation naturally began its search by sounding out the world’s leading coaches, although he stressed that any appointment would depend on their overall availability.
“It was only natural to start with the best in the world. However, we have to assess their overall availability.”
Ancelotti only took charge of Brazil in May 2025 and signed a contract until 2030 before leading the five-time world champions to the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup, where they lost to Norway.
Guardiola, meanwhile, left Manchester City at the end of the 2025-26 season after a decade at the club. During his time at the Etihad Stadium, he won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups and the 2023 UEFA Champions League.
Maldini also admitted accepting his new role with the federation carried significant responsibility but said the opportunity to help rebuild Italian football convinced him to return.
“There is a very ambitious project here. When Italy calls, it is difficult to say no. The opportunity to bring change and the desire to move forward together motivated me.”
