The Minister for Sport, Andrea Abodi, has stated that bringing former Manchester City legend Pep Guardiola on board as Italy’s national coach is “one of the possible options, certainly not an impossible dream.”
Roberto Baggio alongside Pep Guardiola
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Currently, Guardiola is without a contract after leaving the Etihad Stadium, having achieved remarkable success during his ten years there.
His coaching history includes stints at Bayern Munich and Barcelona, though he also played in Serie A with Roma and Brescia, and has frequently returned to Italy, where he has many friends.
This background makes the prospect of him leading the Nazionale quite plausible.
Guardiola’s Strong Connection to Italy
In a UEFA Champions League match on September 18, 2025, in Manchester, England, Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City manager, was seen embracing Antonio Conte, the head coach of Napoli.
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“We must find out if Guardiola is willing to consider this, owing to how significant Italy is in his life, and I believe he is emotionally connected,” Abodi remarked during a conversation with Sky TG.
“He is a viable option, certainly not just a distant dream. While he is an exceptional coach, coaching a national team is a different challenge. We would have to determine whether an extraordinary club tactician is keen to take on the role of a national team coach as well.”
“I feel this is a challenge that Guardiola may eventually pursue. It’s not about the money but rather ambition and aspirations,” he added.
On April 27, 2025, Pep Guardiola addressed the fans following Manchester City’s victory in an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest at Wembley Stadium.
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A decision regarding Guardiola will only be made once a new President of the Federation is in place, with elections for the role scheduled for next month, featuring Giovanni Malagò and Giancarlo Abete as candidates.
“It requires more than just a coach to shape a national team; it must be supported by a high-level project,” the Minister emphasized.
“We need a plan that reinvigorates the path to excellence, which we’ve stunted due to the incompetence of management at club, League, and FIGC levels,” he added.
“Our efforts must be integrated to achieve goals and foster collaboration; it’s insufficient merely to attract fans to fill the stands.”
Abodi has expressed dissatisfaction with the current FIGC presidential candidates, pointing out that clubs and leagues often undervalue the expertise of former players.
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“They assume players are incapable of handling such roles, leading to limitations in project proposals as well as their acceptance,” he said.
“I was present when Roberto Baggio submitted his proposal, and I was surprised that the discourse didn’t match the standards of the submission. There was little attention, as it might have been perceived as too innovative, while Italian football is often overly traditional, which isn’t beneficial.”
“If this mentality continues, the national team will struggle to progress.”
This introspection stems from Italy’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
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“It feels like a century has passed since we last won the World Cup in 2006,” noted Abodi.
“I hope this serves as a wake-up call, as it’s unacceptable to find ourselves in the precarious position of playoff rounds for a third time against more ambitious opponents.”
“I don’t believe it reflects a lack of talent, but rather that we have become complacent, to the extent of overlooking potential.”