Updated: 20 Jul 2026 14:51 BST |
5 min read
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Legendary former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola had a secret meeting over the weekend to discuss the possibility of taking over a national team.
The 2026 World Cup is in the books, and Spain have been crowned champions for just the second time in their history after beating Argentina 1-0 due to an extra-time strike from Ferran Torres.
The final wasn’t a classic by any stretch of the imagination, unlike the third-place playoff between England and France the day prior. The Three Lions prevailed 6-4 in a ridiculous, albeit meaningless, clash over Les Bleus in Didier Deschamps’ final game in charge.
This result only increased the bewilderment and disillusionment with England head coach Thomas Tuchel, with many supporters left asking, “Where was this when we played Argentina?”
This was in reference to the fact that England, instead of continuing their domination, completely capitulated after taking the lead in the second half of their semi-final clash with the Albiceleste, who ultimately staged a breathtaking last-minute comeback.
Will England sack Tuchel?
The 2-1 defeat sparked a massive inquest over Tuchel’s job as manager of the Three Lions, with many believing that the manner in which the team bowed out of the tournament made his position untenable.
England were cruising against Argentina, but the moment the goal went in, they retreated into their shell. Instead of galvanising his players and convincing them to go for the jugular, Tuchel encouraged the switch to a defensive approach with baffling substitutions.
At present, however, there is no suggestion that Tuchel is in any danger of being sacked. It appears that the FA is willing to let the German take charge of the team until the 2028 European Championship on home soil.
It must be said, though, that the FA left itself with little choice by handing Tuchel a new contract ahead of the World Cup. Had the team crashed out in one of the early knockout rounds, he could reportedly have been relieved of his duties without much of a hassle.
But because England reached the semis, sacking Tuchel, who is believed to be one of the best-paid national team coaches out there, would likely require a massive compensation fee.
There has been a clamour among fans for the FA to fire him anyway and pursue Pep Guardiola again, given that the two parties already had a verbal agreement in 2024 before the Spaniard decided to continue at Man City.
However, this isn’t happening, at least not imminently – and it could soon be too late for England to get their hands on the 55-year-old.
Guardiola in talks with Italy
That’s because Sky Italia has now officially confirmed that Guardiola is in talks with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) over the senior men’s national team’s coaching vacancy.
The FIGC cleaned house after the Azzurri missed out on a third consecutive World Cup by losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties in one of the UEFA playoffs in March.
Paolo Maldini has been appointed technical director of the FIGC and, together with his new advisor Leonardo, he is leading the search for a replacement for former head coach Gennaro Gattuso.
Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo have been linked with the Italy job, but there is another option – and it’s being described as a “concrete” one: Guardiola.
Over the weekend, Maldini and Leonardo met with the 55-year-old in Barcelona to sound out his interest in a role he has been linked with since it became clear that he would be leaving Man City.
The report makes sure to emphasise that there is no information yet on whether or not Guardiola wants the job, but it is “certain that Pep is no longer just a dream.” The FIGC is making a “concrete attempt” to secure his signature.
Giovanni Malago, president of the Italian federation, confirmed to Sky that there are other names in the running besides Pirlo and Mancini, though he did not explicitly mention Guardiola.
“There’s no conflict with Maldini and Leonardo,” he said. “In fact, we’re talking to get into the details. Just a few more days of patience and you’ll know everything. Yes, there could be other possible names.”
“For those who say they’re hiring a ‘big shot,’ the first question to ask is whether the person is interested,” he Malago added. “The second is what requests or demands he might have. And then whether this is compatible with our budget.”
“I’ll give you an example: in the World Cup final, there were two coaches like [Lionel] Scaloni and [Luis] De La Fuente. Scaloni had a modest career as a player, and many say he ended up there after so many top coaches turned them down. Yet he did something incredible with the national team.
“De La Fuente: he inherited Spain from giants like Luis Enrique, he comes from the Spanish youth academy, he’s coached these players since the Under 18 teams. What does this mean? That regardless of the person, we need to fix the organisation and methodology first.
“We need to make sure that Italians play better, that they’re more valued, involved, tactically and physically. I repeat: I believe this aspect is much more important, the one I’m sharing with Maldini and Leonardo, among other things. If the culture and mentality don’t change, how will things change?”
Sky reports that during this first meeting with Guardiola, Maldini and Leonardo outlined the project: “It’s not a two-year plan, but a four-year one: competing in the Nations League first, then forming a group for the 2028 European Championship, and then, finally, returning to the World Cup.
“There’s still no answer, and Pirlo’s name remains alive, as does Mancini’s candidacy. For Guardiola, it’s not a salary issue, but a general discussion about the project’s current status and future, coupled with the topic of Italian football’s movement and the reforms needed to create a new national team.”
While no final decision has been made, England appear to be facing a race against time if they wish to appoint Guardiola.
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