Guardiola declines Italy job as federation resets search

Pep Guardiola has declined the Italian Football Federation's invitation to become the next coach of the national team. According to the BBC, the former Manchester City manager informed the FIGC of his decision after several days of talks, stating that he did not feel ready for the role at this time. The rejection marks a significant setback for an Italian federation seeking to restore credibility after the Azzurri failed to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive tournament.

The FIGC had made an aggressive push to secure Guardiola, with FOX Sports reporting that federation president Giovanni Malago publicly confirmed the federation was prepared to make a significant financial exception to lure the Spanish coach. The federation had also approached Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil's World Cup-winning manager, but ESPN reported that Ancelotti had signed a contract extension with the Brazilian Football Confederation through the 2030 World Cup, making him unavailable.